IC-NRLF 


Pepys's 
GHOST- 


His  Wanderings  in  Greater  Gotham,  His 
Adventures  in  the  Spanish  WAR,  together 
with  His  Minor  Exploits  in  the  Field  of 
LOVE  and  FASHION  with  His  Thoughts 
thereon.  Now  re-Cyphered  and  here  set 
down,  with  Many  ANNOTATIONS,  By 

EDWIN  EMERSON  Junior 


Printed  for  RICHARD  G.  BADGER  &  CO. 

and    by    them    sold    at     157     Tremont    Street 

BOSTON,    and  by  all  Venders  of  Choice   Books 

M  D  C  C  C  C 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

OK 


Ooss 


Y 


Pepys's 
GHOST 


His  Wanderings  in  Greater  Gotham,  His 
Adventures  in  the  Spanish  WAR,  together 
with  His  Minor  Exploits  in  the  Field  of 
LOVE  and  FASHION  with  His  Thoughts 
thereon.  Now  re-Cyphered  and  here  set 
down,  with  Many  ANNOTATIONS,  By 

EDWIN   EMERSON  Junior 


Printed  for  RICHARD  G.  BADGER  fcf  CO. 

and    by    them    sold    at    157    Tremont    Street, 
BOSTON,  and  by  all  Venders  of  Choice  Books 


M     C     M 


or  THE 


UNIYtKOl  I  T 


COPYRIGHT  1899  BY 
EDWIN   EMERSON,  JR. 


ll  Rights  Reserved 


** 


UNIVERSITY 


_M*2- 

N 


Pepys's  Ghost 

irst  day  of  the  year. —  So  starteth 
the  newe  yeare,  I  bless  God, 
with  great  joy  to  me,  for  I 
have  never  been  in  so  good 
plight  as  to  my  health,  without 
any  sense  of  pain,  but  upon 

taking  of  cold,  either  in  cold 

weather,~or  indeed  in  any  hot  weather,  these 
seven  years,  as  I  am  this  day,  and  have  been  these 
4  or  5  months.  But  I  am  at  a  great  losse  to 
know  whether  it  be  mine  hare's  foote,  or  drinking 
turpentine,  or  my  having  lefft  off  the  use  of  a 
night  cappe,  no  not  till  yesterday,  and  that  be 
cause  of  the  holyday  frolick. 

^f  To  Mr.  Sherry's  new  hostelry  *  last  night  for 
mirthe  and  dancing,  my  wife  wearing  her  newe 
smock  of  greene  watered  moyre,  very  prettie 
withal,  to  do  honour  to  St.  Sylvester,  f  and  did 
drink  there  of  a  most  noble  punch,  very  cunningly 
brewed,  so  we  all  grew  merry,  with  naughty 
pranks.  God  forgive  our  folly. 
My 

*  In  those  days  the  most  fashionable  public  ball-rooms 
of  New  York,  later  removed  to  a  new  site  on  Fifth 
Avenue,  in  consequence,  so  it  was  asserted,  of  the  scan 
dal  occasioned  by  a  certain  bachelors'  banquet. 

•(•  Patron  saint  of  New  Year's  Day. 

m 


Pepys's  Ghost 

wife  would  have  it,  we  must  heare  the 
chimes  of  Holy  Trinity  at  midnighte,  despite  alle 
my  hott  wordes,  so  I  beholding  an  new  fangled 
equipage  what  runneth  along  with  a  coachman 
and  yet  no  horse,  must  needs  hail  him  and  alight 
inside  with  my  wife,  and  so  we  off  on  our  foolish 
expedition,  fit  to  make  a  dogg  laugh, 
^f  Down-town  the  crowde  pressing  hard  in  upon 
us,  with  blatant  homes  and  rough  rag,  tag  and 
bobtail  making  a  jeste  of  our  coachman  and  his 
new  contrivance,  we  did  darte  into  Pearle  street 
with  high  hopes  because  of  its  wynnding  way  J 
that  it  might  bringe  us  out  of  all  noyse  into  the 
Bowling  Green  and  so  close  unto  the  church 
yarde,§  but  were  cruelly  deceaved,  the  crowde 
below  as  bad  as  above  spoyling  the  sweete  musick 
of  the  chimes  with  horrid  dinne  of  homes  and 
screachings,  yea  it  was  as  iffe  Bedlam  be  let  loose. 
^f  So  home  and  I  angered  to  find  the  house  empty, 
Jane,  the  mayde,  having  gone  abroade  with  the 
new  boy.  'Tis  plain  we  must  part,  which  troubles 
me  (though  she  be  put  away  by  us),  for  I  love  the 
mayde  for  her  naughty  tricks,  and  so  to  bed  think 
ing  of  my  broken  vows  and  long  neglected 
journall. 

January  2d. —  This  fore  noon  I  judge  fit  to 
looke  over  all  my  papers,  and  to  tear  all  that  I 
found  either  boyish  or  not  fit  to  be  seen,  and  find 
that  every  thing  lessens,  which  I  have  and  am 
likely  to  have,  and  therefore  must  I  looke  about 
me  to  get  something  more  than  my  just  stipend, 

or 

J  The  most  crooked  street  of  old  New  York,  running 
out  of  Broadway  near  Bowling  Green,  and  returning  to 
the  same  street  on  the  other  side  of  the  City  Hall.  Its 
devious  way  has  given  rise  to  the  local  sarcasm  applied  to 
persons  of  doubtful  honesty  :  as  "  straight  as  Pearl  Street/' 

§  Trinity  Church. 


P  epy  s's  Gb  o  s  t 

or  else  I  may  resolve  to  live  well  and  die  a  beg 
gar  ;  yet  am  I  in  good  esteeme  with  every  bodyr 
me  thinks,  leastwise  to  my  face. 
^f  Everything  else  in  the  State  quiett,  the  condition 
of  publique  matter  standing  thus,  viz. : 
^[This  city  now  fallen  utterly  under  the  hands 
of  Dick  Croaker  *  and  his  friends,  alle  in  good 
office  from  this  day  on,  upper  most  of  them  Jack 
Carroll,")*  him  who  lately  was  but  a  clerke  of  the 
Oyer  &  Terminer  and  the  Generall  Assizes  where 
I  did  oft  encounter  him.  A  great  hue  and  cry 
being  raised  agaynst  our  Government  for  issue  of 
rotten  meats  to  our  souldiers  and  their  cruelties  in 
the  Asiatick  Isles  beyond  all  belief,  but  in  faith  no 
good  will  come  of  it.  The  Turk  goes  on  mightily 
in  the  Greek  King's  dominions  and  the  Princes 
cannot  agree  among  themselves  how  to  go  agaynst 
him.  The  German  and  Russian  Emperours  very 
far  entered  into  China,  and  all  that  part  of  the 
worlde  at  a  loss  what  to  expect  of  it,  but  we  lying 
idle,  fearthsome  lest  we  loose  controll  of  all  islands 
and  dominions  in  our  Western  seas,  the  Spaniard 
still  harrassing  the  Antilles,  though  we  say  him 
nay. 
At 

*  Richard  Croker,  a  former  hoodlum  and  follower  of 
Boss  Tweed,  who  gained  his  first  prominence  in  a  num 
ber  of  bloody  brawls.  He  was  afterward  made  City 
Chamberlain  of  New  York.  After  a  temporary  eclipse 
and  departure  from  the  country  at  the  time  of  certain 
revelations  of  corruption,  bribery,  and  blackmail  in  New 
York  City,  his  party  returned  to  power  ;  and  he  was 
once  more  acknowledged  as  the  supreme  leader  of  the 
city's  affairs. 

f  John  F.  Carroll,  former  clerk  of  the  Court  of  General 
Sessions,  and  beneficiary  of  the  fees  paid  into  that  court. 
At  that  time  the  reputed  favorite  of  Richard  Croker,  by 
reason  of  his  large  official  acquaintance  with  the  criminal 
classes. 

[3] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

^f  At  dinner  my  wife  full  determined  to  go  to 
the  Playhouse  to  see  Mistress  Rehan  J  play  the 
Shrew  as  Katherine,  but  I  sought  to  satisfy  her 
with  fair  promises  of  seeing  the  same  players  to  act 
As  You  Like  It,  that  droll  comedy  that  pleaseth  me 
so  well,  and  with  more  promises  of  beholding  the 
Criterion  players, §  ween  they  bring  forth  three  new 
plays  all  of  one  afternoon,  yet  she  ill  appeased, 
because  of  the  mayde  remaining  in  our  house. 
So  endeth  the  day,  with  fresh  troubel. 

Twelfthnight. —  Lay  long  in  bed  to  perswade 
my  wife  how  we  must  spend  our  substance  less 
lightly,  my  newe  great  coate  and  the  silken  whisp 
that  I  did  give  her  for  Christmas  of  last  yeare 
indeed  costing  out  of  all  countenance,  but  she, 
poor  wretch,  doth  so  complayne  of  her  dull  lot 
that  I  in  pity  promise  her  to  go  to  Mr.  Daly  his 
play-house  once  more  to  see  Mistress  Rehan  act 
her  part,  I  thinking  that  it  must  needs  be  the  play 
Twelfth  Night,  that  merry  comedy  Jack  Wendell  * 
did  delight  me  in,  when  we  ate  hasty  pudding 
together  at  coledge.  So,  after  dinner,  took  coach, 
and  thither,  but  were  astonied  to  see  her  take 
the  part  of  Rosalind  in  As  You  Like  //,  that  pas 
toral  play  so  cried  up  by  Mile,  de  Maupin.f 
There  saw  we  Will  Winter  J  and  John  Corbin,§ 
the 

J  Ada  Rehan,  leading  lady  of  Augustin  Daly's  Theatre. 

§  New  York's  Independent  Theatre,  supported  by  the 
publishers  of  the  Criterion. 

*  Jacob  Wendell,  Jr.,  younger  brother  to  Barrett 
Wendell,  of  Harvard  University,  a  favorite  amateur  actor 
of  New  York  and  former  star  of  the  Hasty  Pudding  Club 
of  Harvard  College. 

f  See  Theophile  Gautier. 

j  William  Winter,  dramatic  critic  for  the  New  York 
Tribune  and  author  of  several  books  on  the  drama  and 
Elizabethan  literature. 

§  Dramatic  critic  of  Harper's  Weekly. 


P  epy  s's  G  bos  t 

the  pamphleteer  who  helpeth  Mr.  Alden  ||  in  his 
office  on  Franklin  Square,  standing  upright  in  the 
foremost  pit,  but  I  accosted  him  not  espying  Polly 
close  by  him,  yet  knew  not  one  another,  and  I 
highly  contented  thereat,  and  glad  withal  to  be 
hold  her  smooth  neck  turning  now  this  way,  now 
that,  as  if  for  to  vex  me,  albeit  she  feigned  not  to 
see  me,  because  of  my  wife. 

^[  The  play  much  the  same  as  before,  with  Mis 
tress  Rehan  as  gaunt  and  mincing  as  ever,  only  a 
new  headgear  what  pleased  my  wife  well,  but 
laughed  heartily  over  the  droll  anticks  of  them 
that  played  Touchstone,  the  motley  fool,  and 
Audrey,  the  rustick  wench  with  her  clown.  The 
singing  very  prettie,  all  but  the  voices  too  highly 
stray  ned. 

Seventh. — This  day  did  I  receave  an  letter  from 
Polly,  she  having  perceaved  me  where  we  sate  in 
the  pit,  yestereen,  so  coy  and  droll,  that  I  did  view 
all  ills  as  pleasantry,  and  so  to  the  Criterion  Players 
regardless  of  any  expense.  There  did  I  see  Signor 
Giacosa's  new  play  /  Diritti  del?  Anima,  trans 
formed  to  English  by  my  friend  Mr.  Meltzer,* 
mightily  well  done  too,  and  I  all  aglow  over  one 
pithy  sentence  said  by  Mistress  Otis,f  her  that 
entertayned  me  in  her  theatre  pew  on  St.  Sylvester 
night,  saying  /  deploare  my  vertue,  and  made  me  to 
think  of  more  than  one  honest  woman  that  might 
say  likewise.  In  the  pit  with  us  was  Mistress 
Stcffens 

1 1  John  D.  Alden,  editor  of  Harper's  Magazine. 

*  Henry  W.  Meltzer,  former  dramatic  critic  and 
foreign  correspondent  for  the  New  York  World,  then 
dramatic  critic  for  the  Criterion. 

f  Elita  Proctor  Otis,  leading  lady  in  the  Rights  of  the 
Sou/. 


[5] 


P  e py  s's  Ghost 

Steffens  J  with  Norman  Hapgood  §  his  brother, || 
both  very  scorning,  and  Jack  Barry,**  full  of 
praise,  and  did  encounter  Monsieur  Dumay,ff  one 
of  the  playwrights,  but  he  too  breathless  to  give 
heed  to  me.  His  play,  hight  From  a  clear  Skye, 
very  cunningly  wrought,  Carrie  Keeler,  playing  a 
pitiful  young  wife  with  two  husbands,  but  when  it 
was  most  tragick  all  was  spoyled  at  the  end  by  the 
bungling  play-actor  shooting  off  his  blunderbuss 
into  the  boardes  of  the  stage  making  him  that 
feigned  to  be  shot  fall  sidewise  with  a  wry  face. 
So  I  full  of  merriment  to  the  Aldine  Tavern  JJ 
and  supped  there  with  Ned  Woodberry,§§  the 
poet,  who  rejoyced  with  me  over  my  late  new 
windfall  that  hath  lifted  me  out  of  poverty,  as  I 
did  rejoyce  with  him  the  time  he  was  called  here 
from  Bostontown,  and  what  with  drinking  of 
French  wine  and  reciting  of  sonnets  grew  highly 
frolicksome,  and  so  home  very  joyful,  my  wife 
falsely  charging  me  with  drunkeness,  God  forgive 
her. 

Fourteenth. —  Mine  house  topsy-turvy,  making 
ready  to  move  and  I  eager  to  learne  what  cometh 
before  me,  letting  my  journal  lie  idle,  but  was  re 
called  to  it  againe  seeing  Julia  Marlowe  her  com 
pany 

J  Josephine  Bontecou  Steffens,  authoress. 

§  Dramatic  critic  for  the  Commercial  Advertiser  and 
author  of  collections  of  essays. 

||  Hutchinson  Hapgood,  journalist  and  miscellaneous 
writer. 

**  John  D.  Barry,  dramatic  critic  for  Collier's  Weekly, 
author  of  The  Sock  6*  Buskin  Biographies. 

ff  Henri  Dumay,  former  professor  of  French  at 
Washington  University,  at  that  time  editor  of  the 
Criterion. 

J  J  The  Aldine,  a  publishers'  club  on  Fifth  Avenue. 

f&  George  Edward  Woodberry,  author  and  professor 
nglish  literature  at  Columbia  University. 

[61 


Pepys's  Ghost 

pany  play  As  Ton  Like  It.  There  is  much  talke  in 
the  town  how  she  and  Mistress  Rehan  outdo  one 
another,  so  I  all  hot  to  go  from  one  t'other  to 
apprise  all  points  in  what  they  differ,  nor  am  I 
sorry  I  went,  but  must  spend  my  substance  more 
soberly  henceforth  untill  my  newe  emoluments 
come  due.  Truth  is  I  can  nevermore  hope  ever 
to  see  the  like  done  agayne  either  by  men  or 
women,  nor  such  richness  of  paynted  landskips 
or  regularity  of  apparel,  with  living  leaves  uponne 
the  stage  to  marke  the  turning  of  the  yeare.  But 
so  reckless  a  performance  of  the  part  of  Rosalind 
was  never  in  the  world  before  as  Julia  Marlowe 
do  this,  worthy  to  warm  the  cockles  of  Mile, 
de  Maupin's  hearte,  first  as  a  lovesick  girle,  then 
most  and  best  of  all  when  she  strutteth  in  like  £ 
young  gallant  \  and  hath  the  motions  and  carriage 
of  a  young  spark  the  most  that  ever  I  saw  a  girle 
have.  It  makes  me  I  confess  admire  her.  Then 
did  I  leave  my  place  to  go  behind  the  curtayne  to 
pay  my  respects  to  Monsieur  de  Tassin,*  mine 
erstwhile  schoolmate,  taking  the  part  of  wicked 
Frederick,  and  he  so  pleased  at  what  I  said  of  his 
playing,  that  he  gladly  promises  to  present  me  to 
Julia,  who  he  says  plays  her  part  as  in  a  mad 
frenzy.  And  she  very  gracious,  with  not  a  worde 
of  her  husband  f  now  playing  out  of  town,  but 
complayneth  of  her  late  illness,  so  I  forebore  to 
teaze  her  with  the  idle  dispraise  Will  Winter  J 
and  Allen  Dale  §  writ  agaynst  her,  but  shall  have 
it  out  with  them  yet  if  they  be  open  to  reason. 
On 

*  Algernon  de  Vivier  Tassin,  Shakespearean  actor 
and  writer  of  short  stories. 

f  Robert  Taber. 

j  See  previous  note. 

§  Isaac  Cohen,  dramatic  critic  for  the  New  York 
Journal. 

[7] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

^f  On  this  day  arrived  here  Lord  Douglas,  son  to 
the  Marquis  of  Queansberry,  what  clapped  Mr. 
Oskar  Wilde,  our  crestfallen  play-wright,  into  gaol, 
likewise  her  claiming  to  be  first  lawfull  wife  to 
the  play  actor  Ratcliffe,||  the  other  day  sentenced 
in  the  General  Assizes  for  cruell  beating  of  his 
wife.  To-night  I  do  go  to  Polly,  her  house,  for 
to  find  her  alone,  true  to  the  promises  she  writ  in 
her  letter,  but  our  Lord  forgive  me  I  greatly  dread 
the  issue. 

Fifteenth. —  Up  betimes  and  to  mine  office 
much  worried  over  papers  and  did  make  a  vow 
not  to  neglect  mine  affairs  this  many  a  day.  Yet 
could  I  not  think  of  aught  else  but  Polly,  and  her 
treachery,  how  she  did  bid  others  come  and  see 
her  yestereen,  the  whilst  her  husband  was  abroad, 
and  so  it  came  about  that  we  did  all  meet  and 
fiercely  glare  upon  one  another,  each  longful  that 
t'other  might  go,  and  so  sate  untill  late  of  the 
night,  and  then  came  away  alltogether,  the  naughty 
rogue  laughing  in  her  sleeve. 

^f  At  noon  to  the  Cobweb,*  there  dined  with  Mr. 
Durdan,f  whom  I  learned  to  know  at  court  that 
time  I  did  write  the  report  when  and  how  cun 
ningly  he  did  trap  the  fiddle  thief,  and  while  talk 
ing  mighty  busily,  in  cometh  Mr.  Osborne,J 

crown 

||  Edward  J.  Ratcliffe,  put  on  trial  in  New  York  at  the 
instance  of  Peter  Delacey,  his  wife's  father. 

*  An  old  tap-room  on  Duane  Street,  so  called  because 
of  the  cobwebs  that  have  been  allowed  to  gather  on  the 
cupboards  for  more  than  two  generations. 

•)•  H.  P.  Durdan,  a  Canadian,  brought  into  promi 
nence  as  the  chief  witness  in  the  peculiar  trial  of  Victor  S. 
Flechter,  a  dealer  in  musical  instruments,  charged  with 
the  theft  of  a  valuable  Stradivarius  violin. 

J  James  Osborne,  assistant  district  attorney  and  chief 
prosecutor  in  this  cause  celebre. 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

crown  attorney  in  the  trial,  and  says  very  shrewdly 
that  the  thief  was  not  trapped  after  all,  since  that 
he  goeth  free  everywhere,  not  minding  his  punish 
ment,  no  not  one  bit,  and  selleth  instruments, 
more  strange  than  ever.  And  after  a  round  drink, 
he  to  the  Assizes  and  we  to  our  offices,  when  a 
gentleman  plucks  me  by  the  sleeve ;  but  I  much 
puzzled  who  he  might  be,  in  the  end  hailing  him 
as  the  woman  stage  actor  in  the  play  Charley's 
Aunt,  whom  he  was  in  no  wise,  being  Mr.  Town- 
send,*  the  first  sworn-juror  in  that  same  great  trial 
of  the  stolen  Stradivari,  and  he,  too,  discourses  of 
the  Dutch  fiddlemaker,  and  asketh  where  he  be 
clapped  in  gaol.  But  I  telling  him  how  I  saw 
him  but  yesterday  hale  and  hearty  at  the  Musique 
Players  f  that  have  come  from  Boston  town,  he 
waxeth  very  angry  calling  him  scoundrel,  withal 
and  a  damned  black  thief,  to  my  admiration  and 
great  wonderment  to  so  much  choler  in  so  little  a 
man.  But  he  not  to  be  put  down,  decrieth  our 
judges,  as  wanton  marplots  moved  by  this  their 
jealousy  against  His  Honour,  the  Recorder,!  and 
how  any  wretch  can  go  scot  free  in  our  land  if  he 
only  have  money,  I  keeping  my  own  counsel 
untill  he  goeth  this  way  and  I  that,  and  so  parted. 
And  I  very  sad  in  my  heart  that  our  common 
law  so  fallen  in  contempt  and  no  reverence  shown 
to  it  nowhere. 

Twentieth. — This  day  to  Delmonico's  new 
Tavern  and  there  met  Philipp  Hale,§  the  musique 
scribe,  eating  there  and  drinking  with  Mistress 
Hale 

*  Dexter  Townsend,  artist. 

f  Boston  Symphony  Company. 

jjohn  W.  GofF,  the  famous  prosecutor  of  corrupt 
policemen  in  1894. 

§  Well-known  critic  and  editor  of  the  Musical  Record 
of  Boston. 

M 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

Hale,  his  wife,  and  Mynheer  Kneisel,||  the  sweet 
player  from  Boston,  mighty  merry,  mine  host 
sending  us  good  sack,  till  very  late.  Mistress 
Hale  hot  for  the  new  Italian  opera,  at  the  Aca- 
demicall  Playhouse,**  and  I  made  promise  to 
come,  but  went  not,  falling  into  company  of  more 
players,  who  do  entice  me  to  hear  better  musique 
played  at  the  Welsh  chapell,  standing  by  Master 
Thulstrup's  ft  house,  with  high  hopes  of  good 
company.  So  disappointed  was  I  never,  meaning 
to  hear  Master  Harris  play  on  his  spinette  or 
Signer  Tonzo  Sauvage  or  Gwilym  Miles,!  J  the 
singer,  but  none  came,  and  those  what  came  hid 
them  under  the  pit  of  the  chapell,  to  the  high 
anger  of  him  who  had  procured  the  concerto  to 
the  benefice  and  charity  of  a  poor  singer  gone  stark 
mad.  Only  the  maydes  and  mistresses  did  sing 
very  prettily,  what  made  me  not  regret  my  paynes. 
^1  So  to  bed,  my  wife  sleeping  already,  but  lay  long 
thinking  on  my  forgotten  journall  and  Mistress 
Hale,  with  my  broken  promise  to  her,  which  God 
forgive. 

Twenty-seventh. —  Lay  long  in  bed,  and  so  up 
and  abroad  to  several  places  about  petty  business. 
Among  others  to  Sir  Hannibal  Ingalls  *  and  was 
vexed  to  see  him  take  it  amiss  that  I  should  be 
come  to  demand  my  royalty,  which  I  took  in  some 

dudgeon 

||  First  violin  of  Boston  Symphony  and  leading  spirit 
of  chamber  music  concerts  conducted  under  his  name. 

**  Andree  Chenier,  first  presented  in  this  country  at 
New  York  Academy  of  Music. 

•(")•  T.  de  Thulstrup,  well-known  artist  and  illustrator. 

I!  Musicians  and  members  of  New  York  Manu 
script  Society. 

*H.  I.  Kimball,  head  of  former  publishing  firm  of 
Stone  &  Kimball,  then  engaged  in  publishing  one  of  the 
diarist's  books. 

[10] 


P  e py  s's  Ghost 

dudgeon,  calling  him  unreasonable  man  to  his 
great  alteracon,  and  see  clearly  that  I  must  keep 
at  a  little  distance  and  not  crouch,  or  else  I  shall 
never  keep  myself  even. 

^JSo  home  and  did  fall  to  uprayding  my  wife's 
mayd,  she  not  having  platted  my  new  breeches, 
no  not  at  all,  and  the  wench  with  many  tears 
threatens  forthwith  to  forsake  my  wife  against 
mine  intention,  and  to  my  big  regret,  for  truly  she 
was  a  good  wench  and  honest,  albeit  I  called  her  a 
lazy  slut.  My  wife,  hearing  the  outcry,  would 
rate  at  me,  though  not  without  cause,  but  I  will 
not  have  it,  being  master  in  mine  own  house. 
*[j  An  invitation  sent  me  to  come  and  dine  with  my 
friend,  Master  Bitter,f  there  to  break  bread  with 
the  sisters  Barrison,  them  that  were  banished  the 
German  Kingdom,  and  I  having  newly  taken  a 
solemne  oathe  to  my  wife  about  abstaining  from 
plays  which  I  am  resolved  to  keep  according  to 
the  letter  of  the  oathe  which  I  keep  by  me,  I  clap 
on  my  hat,  still  sorely  vexed  at  the  mayd's  foolish 
ness  and  off  to  the  stone-cutting  shop.J 
^[  There  found  I  merry  company  indeed,  with  all 
the  five  sisters,  whom  I  am  told  are  not  all  sisters, 
some  coming  from  Brooklyn  town  and  others  from 
elsewhere,  but  I  much  marvelled  to  find  them  so 
little  and  dayntie  that  were  so  large  and  coarse  in 
the  play  house.  Then  did  we  each  select  his 
mayd  to  be  a  sister  to  him,  and  the  musique  men 
playing  right  merrily  did  fall  to  reading  a  quizzical 
food  card  writ  by  the  master  of  the  feast.  The 
wilfullest  sister  of  all,  Sophia  *  hight,  having  fallen 
unto  me  I  did  nigh  split  my  sides  with  laughter  of 
her 

•\  Karl  Bitter,  well-known  sculptor, 
j  A  unique  studio  and  residence  combined,  built  by 
the  sculptor  on  the  crest  of  the  Hudson  River  palisades. 
*  Sophie  Barrison,  the  heroine  of  a  sensational  elope- 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

her  naughty  quips  and  pranks,  and  did  design  a 
counterfeit  presentment  of  her  pretty  arm  on  my 
food  card,  and  so  lost  my  head  that  I  must  give 
her  a  gold  ring,  with  promise  of  gloves  and  further 
entertainment  like  a  vexatious  simpleton  that  I 
am,  for  such  promises  can  I  nowise  keep. 
^f  What  with  good  sack,  ale,  wine,  and  all  manner 
of  drink,  we  all  mighty  frolicksome  and  nothing  to 
stay  us,  but  we  must  have  more  of  each  until  all 
were  dancing  and  leaping  merrily  with  rag,  tag, 
and  bobtail,  dashing  wine  everywhere,  soyling  each 
the  other's  shirte. 

^f  So  very  roystering  until  4  of  the  clock,  when  one 
taking  coach  we  pell  mell  after,  and  so  acrosse  the 
water  f  into  towne  to  help  them  home,  and  parted 
with  aking  heads,  ruesome  at  so  much  needlesse 
expense,  and  so  to  bed  in  a  bath-house,  but  I  slept 
not  well  by  reason  of  the  loud  snoring  and  noise 
of  sweepers. 

Twenty-eighth. —  Up  betimes,  about  six  o'clock, 
waked  by  a  damned  noise  between  a  mastiff  bitch, 
a  terrier,  and  a  street  cat,  nobody  after  I  was  up 
being  able  to  tell  me  what  it  was.  Home  for 
breakfast  and  did  there  beg  forgiveness  of  my 
wife  and  heard  with  great  sorrow  of  our  mayd 
Jane  leaving  my  house,  after  high  words.  To  my 
room  to  strip  my  soyled  cloathes  and  did  put  on 
my  new  camelott  suit,  made  of  my  cloak,  and 
riding  breeches  now  made  into  a  vest, 
^f  In  comes  my  cozen  James,  and  he  must  have 
it  for  me  to  ride  on  his  new-fashioned  machine  * 
made  of  two  wheels  all  a-tilt  and  saddled.  Then 
he  sustaining  and  I  bestriding  the  pesky  thing  did 

we 

ment  and  morganatic  marriage,  subsequently  annulled  by 
the  German  Emperor. 

•(•The  Hudson  River. 

*  Pneumatic-tired,  chainless  safety  bicycle. 

[«*] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

we  venture  forth  on  the  high  road,  I  sweating  over 
my  whole  body  and  pulling  forward  now  this  leg, 
now  that,  till  he  with  a  loud  outcry  overturned 
me  where  the  road  was  most  dirty.  So  vexed  I 
was,  that  forgetting  our  kinship  I  out  and  called 
him  a  fool  and  like  hard  names,  kicking  the  trai 
torous  engine  with  my  foot,  but  he  minding  not 
my  choler,  persuadeth  me  to  mount  agayn  only 
to  suffer  a  worser  fall.  Then  became  I  as  one 
furious  mad,  for  my  camelott  suit  was.  all  ripped 
and  soyled  and  my  new  hatte,  bought  of  Knox, 
the  hatter,  dimpled  in  shamefully  with  no  rewards 
for  my  payns  but  mocks  and  laughs,  so  I  did 
sweare  an  oath  to  bestride  none  but  horses  and 
soft  carriages  if  God  help  me  out  of  this  ad 
venture. 

^[To  my  room  once  more  to  strip  me  of  my 
cloathes,  my  wife  very  reproachfull,  and  thence 
to  the  Ashland  Inn  *  to  dine  with  Oliver  Her- 
ford  f  the  Bishop's  J  son,  and  Colonel  McClure 
with  Capt.  Doubleday  §  and  his  brave  staff,  but 
came  there  out  of  all  time  too  late,  the  best  food 
having  been  most  eaten.  The  company,  very 
merry  one  to  another,  around  the  big  round  table, 
but  I,  sad  and  melancholy,  finding  nothing  to 
drink  but  water,  untill  Master  Herford,  espying 
my  discomfort,  loudly  calls  for  a  tankard  of  good 
ale  and  so  appeased  me.  Then  was  each  after  an 
other  presented  unto  me  by  name,  only  not  he 
that  I  believed  the  master  of  the  feast,  a  kind  and 
stately  gentleman,  very  old,  to  whom  I  did  all 

honour 

*The  Ashland  House,  Lexington  Avenue  and  24th 
Street. 

f  Artist  and  wit  of  the  town. 

jThe  Rev.  Dr.  Brooke  Herford. 

§  McClure  &  Doubleday,  a  large  publishing  firm  of 
New  York. 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

honour.  Much  fierce  talke  there  was  of  Spain 
and  her  designs  upon  us,  I  listening  but  lightly 
and  not  of  the  same  minde,  and  so  called  for  our 
reckoning,  one  striving  to  pay  for  the  other,  all 
but  the  kind  old  man,  whom  after  he  up  and  gone, 
none  by  our  confession  had  seen  or  known  before, 
to  the  great  merriment  of  all. 

^JTo  Colonel  McClure's  barracks,||  very  wide 
and  handsome  to  look  upon,  and  after  much 
praise  and  pretty  speeches  did  make  a  foolish 
promise  to  tell  a  new  tale  of  adventure  and  to 
have  it  set  in  writing,  but  went  away  doubtfull, 
fearing  much  the  issue.  So  home  and  to  bed  after 
musique  from  my  good  wife  on  her  espinnette, 
making  me  to  think  of  Polly,  and  how  she  did 
play  to  us,  what  time  she  bid  all  her  lovers  come 
together. 

My  Birthday. —  To-day  am  I  entering  on  my 
thirtieth  yeare,  and  so  lay  long  in  the  morning, 
hugging  my  bed,  with  high  resolves  how  I  must 
turn  all  things  to  a  better  accounting.  My  wife 
up  early,  and  anon  bestoweth  upon  me  a  rich 
gowne  for  to  stay  at  home  in,  the  skirts  wherof 
fall  to  mine  ankles,  warm  and  cozy  withal,  and 
a  noble  cake,  wherefore  she  did  demand  toll  of 
twenty-nine  kisses,  one  for  each  of  my  yeares, 
and  so  we  bussed  one  another  right  heartily. 
Going  abroad  to  seek  a  barber  for  to  trim  my 
beard  did  venture  into  the  shop  of  an  Italian 
knave,  filling  my  eares  with  dinne  of  the  horrid 
scandal  now  rife  at  the  Court  of  Savoy,*  attainting 
even  the  King,  and  mine  mouth  with  soapsuddes. 
To 

||  Editorial  rooms  of  McClure's  Magazine  and  Syndi 
cate. 

*The  marital  infelicities  of  King  Humbert's  brother. 


P  epy  sys  Ghost 

the  Players  f  on  Gramercy  Park  for  my 
morning  draught  and  there  come  agayn  upon 
Oliver  Hereford,  very  merry  with  blasphemous 
jeasts,  yet  reproachful  that  I  had  not  returned 
him  his  comick  drawings  I  loaned  from  him 
yestereen.  Growing  both  anhungered,  to  table, 
meaning  to  break  fast  with  but  bread  and  cheese, 
but  on  bethinking  me  of  my  birthday  did  call  for 
a  flagon  of  rare  Burgundy  wine,  and  so  were  soon 
joined  by  my  namesake  Ned  Simmons, J  the  payn- 
ter,  and  Mr.  Lathrop,§  the  pamphleteer,  whom  I 
did  ask  how  about  this  evill  report  that  his  friend 
Augustin  Daly  had  picked  a  quarrel  with  Norman 
Hapgood,||  for  that  he  had  writ  dispraise  of  his 
good  friend  Mistress  Ada  Rehan,  all  very  foolish, 
but  could  obtaine  little  satisfaction  from  Mr.  La- 
throp,  who  doth  sweare  by  his  friend  Mr.  Daly 
alway.  So  grew  we  ever  more  joyous,  with  hotte 
converse  of  Monsieur  Zola,  the  Frenchman,  his 
troubel  anent  the  court-martialls  of  two  officers 
charged  with  spying,**  and  the  spying  leach  in 
Vienna,ft  who  claimeth  to  know  the  animal 

secrets 

•f-  The  Players,  a  club  founded  by  the  late  Edwin 
Booth,  and  originally  intended  for  the  benefit  of  actors. 

J  Edward  Emerson  Simmons,  artist  and  wit. 

§  The  late  George  Parsons  Lathrop,  formerly  connected 
with  Daly's  Theatre. 

||  See  previous  note.  Mr.  Daly,  objecting  to  a  piece 
of  dramatic  criticism  written  by  Mr.  Hapgood,  in  which 
the  latter  expressed  a  preference  for  Julia  Marlowe's 
Rosalind  over  the  Rosalind  of  Ada  Rehan,  undertook  re 
taliatory  measures,  thus  stirring  up  a  temporary  tempest 
in  the  teapot  of  New  York  journalism. 

**  The  trials  of  Captain  Dreyfus  and  Major  Esterhazy 
in  Paris. 

f-j-  Professor  Schen»:k,  the  professed  discoverer  of  the 
causes  of  sex. 

j 

i 


Pepys's  Ghost 


ey 

secrets  of  our  different  sexe,  with  ever  more  bot- 
eret:;d  I  a  droll  yet  ruefuU  ta,e  on  Mr 


abroad    in    France    lately,  tastmg  of     ome   truly 

bBSSiSft  =,  1  2  "sow 

t  purchase  all  the  vintage  of  the  valley,  many 
housand  hogsheads  of  wine,  so  that  none  m 
Ch^ndom'should  tipple  of  his  wine,  but  on  y 
himself  alone  and  his  own  guests.  Returned 
hiAer  very  gladsome  he  must  needs  prov.de  a 
f£i  win^  v'ault  upon  his  new  estate  and  sum 
moning  Dick  Hunt,t  son  of  h,m  what  bmk  h 


his 


^O;  the  first  ship's  load  reaching  the  citt,  -Mr. 
Vanderbilt  yearned  for  his  wine,  incontinently, 
but  when  it^as  brought  before  h,m  'twas  found 
to  be  turned  soure  from  the  rude  tossmg  of 


Hid  now  call    for   a   cunning   shippe   devised  by 

'~ 

*  George  W.  Vanderbilt. 

f  Richard  Hunt,  architect. 

t  Biltmore.  . 

I  The  late  inventor  of  Bessemer  steel. 


P  epy  s  V  Ghost 

thereon  sett  high  hope,  yet  all  for  naught,  the 
good  wine  agayne  turning  soure  as  iffe  for  spite. 
^f  The  upshotte  of  it  for  Mr.  Vanderbilt,  a  great 
hollow  wine  vault,  very  dexterously  carven  and 
a  delight  to  behold,  but  no  wine  in  it,  leastwise 
not  the  rare  and  noble  vintage  procured  by  him ; 
whilst  the  wine  lyeth  idle  in  France  with  none  to 
move  it,  and  no  hope  but  to  go  thither  and  for 
to  drink  it  up  all  alone,  in  sooth  a  pityfull  tale, 
what  wrung  my  hearte.  Nathless  I  did  rejoyce 
to  think  how  I  was  too  poor  to  fall  in  such  follies. 
So  home,  late  of  the  night,  after  supper  with  the 
same  merry  gentlemen,  crossing  paths  with  Will 
Howells  ||  and  Dick  Gilder,**  arm  in  arm,  all  un 
mindful  of  the  strange  darkening  of  the  sunne, 
now  duly  come  to  pass,  as  the  learned  astrologer 
hath  foretold. ff 

February  Seventh. —  Lay  long  in  bed,  having 
lately  fallen  into  the  habit  of  carousing  late 
a-nights  and  swore  a  solemne  oathe  to  mend  me 
of  my  ways,  untill  my  wife  reminding  me  of  my 
promise  to  escort  our  newly-wed  friends  to  the 
Frenchmen's  Masque,*  I  very  hastily  up  and  out 
to  find  coach  and  other  trappings  for  the  evening. 
^[To  the  Black  Cat  f  and  after  tasting  of  some 
rare  old  Sack  with  mine  host,  the  Frenchman,  and 
Madame,  his  wife,  fell  to  discourse  about  the 

masque 

||  William  Dean  Howells,  author  and  novelist. 

**  Richard  Watson  Gilder,  poet  and  editor  of  the  Cen 
tury  Magazine. 

ff  Eclipse  of  the  sun  observed  from  eastern  hemi 
sphere,  January,  1898. 

^The  annual  bal  masqute  of  the  Cercle  de  I*  Harmonie 
of  New  York. 

f  Au  Chat  Noir,  a  French  restaurant  on  lower  Fifth 
Avenue,  after  the  pattern  of  the  famous  Bohemian  resort 
bearing  the  same  name  in  Paris. 

[-7] 


Pepys's  Gbost 

masque  at  the  great  Pavillion  J  that  beareth  the 
golden  Diana  on  its  roof  for  a  weather-cock, §  and 
he  very  civilly  offereth  to  get  us  all  in  free  of  cost 
through  his  kinsman,  master  of  ceremonies.  I 
thanking  him  heartily  he  accompanieth  me  forth 
to  the  cozen  his  house  in  the  French  Quarter  || 
and  found  him  dwelling  over  a  patten-maker's 
shop,  who  styleth  himself  sabotier  what  is  the 
French  for  cobbler. 

If  After  much  harangue  and  shrugging  of  shoulders, 
I  feigning  to  misprehend  their  French  chatter,  the 
cozen  very  graciously  bestoweth  upon  me  a  privy 
box  at  the  show,  but  warneth  me  not  to  bring  the 
womenfolk  dismasked. 

If  To  the  Players  on  Gramercy  Park  and  there 
finding  Master  Bull  **  and  Clinton  Ross,ff  the 
scribe,  over  a  stoup  or  so  of  Scotch  ale  and  some 
rare  sirloin,  did  bespeak  all  the  plans  of  our  party 
and  so  sallied  forth  to  buy  my  wife  a  domino, 
Venetian  eyes,  and  face  powder  wherewith  more 
fully  to  disguise  herself,  with  other  curious  errands 
more  devious  and  troublesome  than  ever  I  went. 
Yet  forgot  I  all  my  paynes  and  travail  to  behold 
my  wife  so  joyfull  and  beside  herself  in  cotempla- 
tion  of  the  evening's  sport,  and  so  after  a  toothsome 
dinner  with  a-plenty  of  wine  and  mocca  drink 
from  Turkey,  she  to  her  room  to  prink  herself  and 
I  the  same  after  tasting  of  a  pipe  of  new-fangled 
Tobacco  from  the  Spanish  West  Indies.  The 

coach 

J  Madison  Square  Garden. 

§  Famous  bronze  figure  by  St.  Gaudens. 

||  On  the  middle  West  Side  of  New  York,  west  of 
Broadway,  also  known  as  the  Tenderloin  district,  from  a 
former  club  of  Bohemians. 

**  Jerome  Case  Bull,  editor  of  Munsey* s  Magazine  and 
writer  of  short  stories. 

•)•  f  Novelist. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

coach  coming  to  the  door  before  I  am  fully  dressed, 
with  my  wife  very  importunate  for  a  silken  whisp, 
I  waxing  wroth  did  first  soyle  and  crumple  my 
fine  shift  and  then  burst  asunder  one  of  my  white 
gloves  and  so  fell  a-cursing,  which  God  forgive, 
but  was  appeased  on  finding  the  damned  whisp 
tucked  away  in  my  new  beaver  hat,  my  wife  laugh 
ing  at  the  matter  and  assured  there  be  no  need  of 
gloves  with  common  wenches  for  dancers. 
<jf  So  very  merrily  to  Hieronymus  Bull's  house,  and 
his  handsome  wife  joining  us,  to  the  dance  hall 
very  late.  Such  noise  and  clamor  of  voices  did  I 
never  hear,  nor  such  rudeness  of  servants,  no 
never,  the  maids  snatching  the  women's  wrappes 
from  them  and  the  men  made  to  pay  rich  fees  for 
their  hattes,  nilly  willy,  and  so  to  our  box  stall,  my 
wife  very  pretty  for  all  her  masquing  and  muffling. 
Much  I  marvelled  to  see  fine  gentlemen  stalking 
about  with  their  hattes  on  their  heads,  a  rude 
fashion  lately  brought  from  Paris,  and  likewise 
passing  strange  to  behold  was  an  overbold  wench 
dressed -as  a  nun  bearing  a  silver  cross  on  her 
breast,  a  sight  what  gave  great  offence  to  many, 
for  all  her  pretty  face  and  comely  dancing,  whilst 
others  agayne  were  vexed  to  see  lurking  in  a  cor 
ner  the  chief  constable,  captain  Chapman,  the 
whilom  marplot  of  a  silly  roysterers'  banquet  *  to 
the  great  discomfiture  of  many  merry  gentlemen,  f 
^f  But  the  most  curious  spectacle  by  all  odds  was 
certain  wommen  in  soldiers'  togs  f  and  other  army 
ensigns  upon  their  bodies,  who  though  nowise 
masquelyns  did  go  about  amonge  the  wildest  of 
rag 

*See  previous  note  concerning  Seeley  dinner  scandal. 

•j-  Indictments  subsequently  found  by  the  grand  jury 
-of  New  York  against  the  Messrs.  Seeley  and  their  guests, 
afterward  dismissed  as  unwarranted. 

•{•  Salvation  Army  lasses. 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

rag,  tag  and  bobtail  enjoining  all  to  fear  the  Lord 
and  seek  salvation.  Such  a  sight  have  I  never 
seen,  no  not  at  an  hundred  masques,  and  might 
have  made  us  all  turn  from  the  show,  had  not 
Master  Bull  espied  the  fair  Spanish  morena,  Senora 
Otero,f  whom  I  saw  dancing  when  she  was  but  a 
poore  young  maid,  but  who  was  now  caparisoned 
in  pearles  and  jewelles  for  a  queen's  throat  and 
rich  enwrapped  in  a  noble  silken  mantle  and  furry 
collar.  Then  arose  a  great  outcry  because  some 
of  the  morena's  over-merry  gentlemen  did  strive  to 
draw  a  dancing  woman  into  their  seats,  uphauling 
her  from  the  floor,  but  desisted  upon  her  cries  and 
the  menaces  from  the  constables  who  must  needs 
spoyl  all  fun  and  frolick. 

Tf  Still  did  we  tarry  for  a  quaint  morris  dance,  one 
playful  wench  kicking  so  high  that  she  did  kick  off 
all  the  gentlemen's  hattes,  and  even  higher,  but 
wearying  eftsoon  of  such  sport  betook  ourselves  to 
supper  with  no  stint  of  French  wines  and  drawing 
of  stoppers.  There  found  we  many  topers  with 
their  damsels,  who  unrestrayned  by  any  galling 
constable  did  freely  turn  up  their  pretty  heels  and 
loath  to  walk  overfar  did  slide  a-squatting  downe 
the  marble  steps  to  the  banquet  hall,  a  merry  sport 
indeed  that  did  make  us  all  laugh  to  shake  our 
sides  unmindful  of  our  wommenfolk  who  would 
proclaim  them  tipsy  hussies. 

^f  For  all  that  a  dreary  masque,  as  French  masques 
are  wont  to  be  nowadays,  and  we  all  glad  enough 
to  find  our  coach  and  so  home  to  bed,  very  weary. 
Ninth. —  Lay  almost  till  noon  merrily  in  my 
bed,  whom  I  hugged,  being  very  sleepy.  Up  then 
in  trouble  at  being  found  abed  by  all  sorts  of  peo 
ple,  I  having  got  a  trick  of  sitting  up  later  than  I 

need 

f  Well-known  Spanish  dancer,  the  rival  and  successor 
of  Carmencita. 

[20] 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

need,  never  supping,  yea  very  seldom,  before  1 2  at 
night.  And  did  sweare  an  oathe  not  to  do  so 
agayne,  no  not  further  till  all  mine  affairs  be  set  in 
order.  A  very  foule,  windy,  and  rainy  day,  so  that 
I  did  put  on  my  plaine  cravatte. 
^f  After  my  morning  draft  and  a  chine  of  beef, 
which  the  silly  tapster  had  commended,  to  my 
office,  mighty  busy.  Whilst  working  hard,  in 
comes  my  cozen  Griscomb  *  and  entreeteth  me  to 
go  behold  the  dissenting  preacher  now  discoursing 
at  the  Coopers'  Hall,f  a  passing  strange  sight.J 
^f  There  found  I  great  rabble  of  many  various 
humours,  and  heard  rare  harangue  with  quaint  an- 
themnes,  but  it  was  most  extraordinary  hot,  that 
ever  I  knew  it.  The  discourse  very  rude,  much 
ranting  and  scolding  of  making  it  hotter  still,  un 
less  we  sing  more  louder,  which  was  a  fine  way  of 
rhetorique  to  persuade  us  to  the  peace  of  heaven, 
and  I  more  and  more  persuaded  that  such  singing 
with  many  voices  is  not  singing  at  all,  but  only  a 
sort  of  noise.  Whilst  the  preacher  exhorted  most 
angrily,  I  beheld  a  handsome  wench,  with  mighty 
merry  eyes  and  did  make  signs  with  mine  eyes  too, 
but  found  her  a  little  colder  than  meet,  me-thought, 
which  did  a  little  molest  me  and  made  me  to  think 
of  Polly  whom  I  likewise  did  make  love  to  in 
church,  now  married  many  years.  Pursing  still 
my  mouth  in  such  pleasant  fancy,  the  pretty 
mayde  let  fall  her  kerchief  and  I  hastily  rising 
strived  to  find  it  for  her,  but  a  rude  clout  pushing 
in  my  way  I  heard  nothing  but  high  and  furious 
words  for  my  paynes,  and  no  thanks  from  the 

wench 

*  Capt.  Lloyd  C.  Griscom,  diplomatic  attache  at 
Court  of  St.  James  and  Constantinople.  See  R.  H. 
Davis,  Three  Gringos  in  South  America. 

f  The  Cooper  Institute,  at  the  end  of  the  Bowery. 

J  Annual  Moody  and  Sankey  revival  meeting. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

wench.  So  not  esteeming  the  discourse  and  loud 
musique  to  my  taste  I  up  and  home  to  dinner. 
^f  Soon  my  wife  and  I  fell  out.  I  being  displeased 
with  her  wearing  her  collar  up  to  her  ears  almost, 
out  of  a  belief,  but  without  reason,  that  it  is 
fashion.  Here  we  did  give  one  another  the  lie 
over  much,  but  presently  kissed  and  were  good 
friends. 

^f  Then  she  did  tease  me  to  go  again  to  the  show 
of  wild  men  and  red  savages, §  and  I  did  yield, 
though  I  liked  not  the  late  dressing,  and  there  met 
Nap  Jennings,  the  quipster,||  who  did  boast  greatly 
of  his  new  wonderful  tale  of  his  ventures  while 
trooping  with  the  Texas  Rangers,  but  took  not 
much  pleasure  in  the  horse  play.  And  so  to  bed, 
after  late  supper,  mine  oathe  of  this  morning 
already  broken. 

Tenth. —  Lay  long  to  recover  our  rest  agaynst 
the  morrow,  my  wife  and  I  holding  ourselves 
bound  to  go  fresh  to  the  Masque.*  Then  up  and 
to  my  Taylor  to  revile  the  raskall  who  delighteth 
in  keeping  me  on  the  rack  for  my  masking 
cloathes,  but  he  with  much  ado  blameth  his  buffle- 
head  of  a  'prentice,  who  at  last  fetcheth  forth  my 
jackanapes  coate  with  silver  buttons  and  ye  slasht 
waste  coate  made  of  my  sister's  green  petty  coate 
of  flowred  satin  with  fine  white  and  gimp  lace,  all 
very  brave  and  fine,  with  my  wigge,  cocked  hatte, 
belt  and  aggate  hafted  sword  yet  to  come.  So  to 
the  hairdresser,  she  wringing  her  hands  and  com- 
playning  bitterly  how  the  demands  for  her  to  come 

to 

§  Buffalo  Bill's  Wild  West  Show. 

||  Napoleon  Augustus  Jennings,  humorist  and  poet  on 
the  staff  of  the  New  York  World,  author  of  A  Texas 
Ranger. 

*The  great  costume  ball  given  by  Mrs.  Bradley- 
Martin  in  that  year. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

to  so  many  noble  houses  all  at  the  same  time 
come  nigh  breaking  her  brains,  poor  wench,  yet 
promiseth  after  a  little  while  so  I  had  soothed  her 
with  softe  words,  not  to  fayl  us,  and  so  home  to 
fetch  the  good  newes  to  my  fearthsome  wife. 
^]  After  the  cloathes  be  comen  home,  and  my  wife 
had  prinked  her  very  pretty  in  her  dress  of  green 
watered  moyre,  like  unto  that  of  her  grandmother 
paynted  in  her  father's  hall,  with  powdered  hair, 
and  patches,  her  feete,  forsooth,  perched  high  upon 
her  red-heeled  pattens,  we  forth  to  our  coach,  I 
very  mindful  of  my  sword,  lest  the  dayntie  scab 
bard  be  bent  or  broken  between  my  legges. 
^f  So  to  the  house  of  Sir  Downing  f  and  his  lady 
and  there  sat  down  to  a  tablefull  of  masquelyns, 
all  very  diverse  and  merry,  some  playing  their 
parts  and  some  not,  and  among  them  Ned  Cou- 
dert,  the  French  barrister's  son,  all  black  and 
solemne  as  a  Popish  abbot,  Mr.  William  Penn,J 
and  Squire  Smalley,§  no  less  solemne,  though  in 
gay  apparrell.  A  noble  dinner  most  neatly 
dressed.  We  had  a  fricasee  of  rabbits  and 
chickens,  a  legge  of  mutton  boiled,  three  carps 
in  a  dish,  a  great  dish  of  a  side  of  lambe,  a  dish 
of  roasted  pigeons,  a  lamprey  pye  (a  most  rare 
morsel),  a  dish  of  lobster  with  anchovies,  good 
wine  of  several  sorts,  and  all  things  mighty  brave 
and  to  our  greate  contentment,  untill  the  Squire,  I 
knew  not  be  it  for  jest  or  to  be  a  marplot,  fell  to 
talke 

•j-  First  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  a  follower  of 
Cromwell,  then  Royalist  turncoat,  and  Lord  of  the 
Admiralty  in  Samuel  Pepys's  day. 

J  Supervisor,  likewise  Lord  of  Admiralty,  and  superior 
officer  of  Samuel  Pepys. 

§  George  W.  Smalley,  correspondent  of  the  New  York 
Tribune  and  London  Times. 


P  e  py  s's  Ghost 

talke  of  Doctor  Rainsford,||  of  St.  George's  chap- 
ell,  and  his  sermon  how  that  gentlefolk  should 
avoyd  emulacion  with  masques  and  froliques  in 
these  troublous  days  when  we  see  no  content  or 
satisfaction  anywhere  in  any  sort  of  people,  and 
would  have  talked  more  of  such  tiresome  talke, 
but  we  all  rising  to  take  coach,  did  leave  him  to 
follow  in  some  confusion.  Alighting  near  the 
great  Waldorf  hostelry,  we  out  and  into  the  land 
lord's  own  dwelling-house  and  there  found  all 
things  meet  for  our  coming,  but  tarried  not,  but 
passed  thence  through  a  privy  passage  way  to  the 
first  upper  story  of  the  hostelry  there  to  divest  us 
of  our  wrappes  and  cloakes.  And  I  marvelled 
much  to  behold  so  many  fine  costumes  and  sweet 
smelling  flowres  and  posies,  yet  the  serving  men 
and  maydes  dressed  in  the  grievous  garb  of  these 
latter  days,  a  spectacle  that  shamed  me  into  re 
membrance  how  we  shall  be  arrayed  in  like  sorry 
fashion  on  the  morrow. 

1f  My  wife  coming  out  of  one  of  the  dressing 
chambers,  very  pretty  to  behold  with  her  many 
patches  on  chin  and  cheeks,  and  all  Sir  Downing's 
diners  assembled  we  down  the  wynding  steps  to 
the  shining  ball  room,  while  the  lackeys  did  loudly 
announce  our  names  and  the  names  of  them  we 
portrayed. 

^]  There  stood  Mistress  Martin  arrayed  in  black 
velvet  and  red  brokade  an'  she  had  stepped  from 
one  of  Sir  Peter  Lely's  portraitures  with  her  hus 
band  standing  by  in  a  quaint  costume  like  unto 
that  of  Henri  III.  the  French  King.  Then  did  I 
glut  mine  eyes  on  many  dazzling  dresses  of  ladies 
and  fine  gentlemen,  bewildering  to  behold,  and 
knew  but  of  few  what  was  their  guise  but  did 

comprehend 

||  The  Rev.  Dr.  Rainsford,  rector  of  the  fashionable 
parish  of  St.  George  on  Stuyvesant  Square  in  New  York. 

[*4] 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

comprehend  at  last  many  familiar  figures.  So 
much  rich  rayment  did  I  never  see,  no  not  even 
at  the  great  masque  of  ten  years  ago,*  all  wonder 
fully  blended  in  the  greate  quadrille  d'honeur. 
^[  So  to  supper  before  I  had  half  beheld  all  to  be 
seen,  my  wife  flushed  pink  from  dancing ;  and 
after  a  proud  noble  supper,  back  to  the  ball  room 
to  see  Elisha  Dyer,f  the  courtly  dancer,  lead  the 
so  called  German  dance,  in  which  were  to  be  seen 
our  Queen  of  Revels,  with  Mistresses  Fish,|  De 
Lanier,  Bryce,§  Lispenard  Stewart,  and  Spinster 
Gerry, ||  followed  by  many  Queen  Besses,  Queens 
of  Scots,  with  other  play  Kings  and  queens,  and 
famous  payntings  seemingly  come  to  life. 
^[Whilst  I  stood  there,  feasting  mine  eyes  on 
such  noble  sights,  a  lady  sneezed  backward  upon 
me,  but  after  seeing  her  to  be  a  very  pretty  lady,  I 
was  not  troubled  at  it  at  all. 

^|  So  after  some  more  dances  with  much  frolique 
and  jollity,  at  last  away  and  to  bed,  but  lay  long 
awake  discoursing  of  the  many  sights  of  the  night 
and  how  many  noses  were  thereby  put  out  of 
joynt,  I  reckoning  the  cost  thereof  to  be  full  hun 
dred  thousand  pound  sterling. 

Twelfth. — This  morning  comes  a  carrier,  bear 
ing  a  letter  from  Mistress  Elia  Wheeler  Wilcox, 
telling  of  her  book  Three  Women ;  she  sent  me  to 
Monsieur  Dumay  his  office,*  yet  not  delivered 

*  Famous  costume  ball  given  at  the  Vanderbilt  mansion 
in  New  York. 

•(•Favorite  leader  of  cotillions  among  New  York's  Four 
Hundred. 

J  Daughters  of  Stuyvesant  Fish. 

§  Only  daughter  of  Calvin  Bryce,  senator  from  Ohio. 

||  Daughter  of  Eldridge  Gerry,  founder  of  the  Society 
for  the  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Children. 

*  Editors'  rooms  of  the    Criterion,  weekly  illustrated 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

yet,  which  so  vexed  me  that  I  did  tear  it  all  to 
pieces.  Anon  coming  upon  Monsieur  Dumay  I 
did  reproach  him,  but  he  would  not  bear  the 
blame,  and  talked  so  peevish  because  of  the  Mas 
querade  late  the  night  before,  that  I  forebore  to 
upbraid  him,  poor  man,  for  what  was  not  his  fault. 
To  Brevoort's  Tavern,f  beholding  many  fine 
sleighes  dragged  along  over  the  bare  stones  of  the 
street,  nigh  splitting  mine  ears,  and  there  found 
those  merry  musick  players,  Masters  Ysaye, 
Pugno,  Sobrino  and  the  lad  Gerardy,J  who  did 
teaze  me  greatly  to  hear  him  play  to-night,  what 
I  promised  gladly  to  do.  Monsieur  Dumay  stay 
ing  to  dispute  with  Mistress  Davidson, §  I  home 
to  dinner,  and  prevayled  upon  my  wife  to  come 
with  me  to  the  Musick  Hall,  but  having  heard  all, 
thought  highly  indeed  of  how  Anthony  Seidl,||  the 
musick  master  from  Hungary,  dealt  with  Master 
MacDowelPs  **  newe  Indian  piece,  Monsieur 
Ysaye  declaring  loudly  that  it  was  a  pleasaunce, 
and  I  must  tell  Master  MacDowell  so  when  next 
I  see  him  at  the  coledge,  lest  Harry  Finck,ff  our 
critical  friend,  precede  him  with  his  incontinent 
praise  of  the  Hungarian. 

First  Day  of  the  Month. — To  Augustin  Daly's 
play  house  to  see  Mistress  Reehan  play  Peggy 
Thrift  in  The  Country  G/W,  made  over  by  David 

Garrick 

periodical,  in  which  appeared  a  series  of  these  Pepys* 
papers. 

f  Brevoort  House,  on  lower  Fifth  Avenue. 

j  Illustrious  quartet  of  musicians,  at  that  time  stranded 
in  New  York  by  the  rascality  of  an  unscrupulous  manager. 

§  Publisher  of  the  Criterion. 

||  Late  orchestral  leader  of  New  York  and  Baireuth. 

**  Henry  MacDowell,  composer  and  professor  of  music 
at  Columbia  University. 

f  •(•  Henry  T.  Finck,  author  and  musical  critic  of  New 
York  Evening  Post* 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

Garrick  from  Wycherley's  Country  Wife,  but 
liked  not  the  changes,  the  parts  of  Sir  Jasper 
Fidget  and  Pinchwife  in  the  old  comedy  being  left 
off,  yet  still  a  good  play,  alltho  not  so  merry  as 
the  petite  comedy  by  the  French  playwright, 
Monsieur  Pailleron,  played  for  a  curtain  raiser. 
Jack  Barry  JJ  coming  from  Franklin  Square  to 
dine  with  us,  would  have  my  wife  go  with  him  to 
the  Italian  players  on  the  Bowery-road,  for  him 
to  write  a  critical  pamphlet  thereof;  but  she  would 
not  hear  of  it,  in  remembrance  of  the  evill  smell 
and  rude  yokels  in  their  play  house,  what  time  we 
saw  Rigoletto  or  The  King  His  Frolick,  so  he  went 
his  way  very  rueful. 

Lord's  Day  (ijth). —  Up  and  abroad,  the 
weather  like  unto  that  of  a  day  in  April,  and  met 
many  fine  ladies  and  merry  gentlemen  arrayed  in 
their  best,  though  the  streets  be  still  filthy  for  all 
the  protestations  of  Mr.  McCartney,*  what  took 
the  place  of  gallant  Colonel  Waring,  the  only 
honest  commissioner  of  streets  whatever  we  had 
to  the  lasting  discombture  of  Major  Andrews  f 
now  outlawed  by  his  fellow  officers. 
^{To  the  East  Side  to  behold  the  common  people 
thronging  the  streets,  with  many  rude  jests  and 
loud  laughter,  and  there  come  upon  Jake  Riis,§ 
what  wrote  that  book,  How  the  Other  Half 

Lives, 

JJ  See  previous  note. 

*  First  Commissioner  of  Street  Cleaning  of  Greater 
New  York. 

f  Predecessor  of  Street  Cleaner  Commissioner  Waring, 
dropped  from  membership  in  the  "Loyal  Legion"  after 
charges  of  bribery  brought  against  him  during  the  Lexow 
investigation  of  1894. 

§  Jacob  A.  Riis,  police  reporter  for  the  New  York  Sun, 
author  of  The  Children  of  the  Poor  and  of  many  articles 
on  tenement  house  life  in  the  Century  Magazine. 

07] 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

Lives,  making  many  soft  hearts  to  weep,  but  now 
writeth  under  the  sign  of  the  Sun,  and  yet  is  a 
friend  to  Dick  Gilder,!  highly  admirable  indeed, 
and  was  told  by  him  of  a  new  fire  on  Cherry  Hill, 
in  our  erstwhile  Golden  Hill  Inn,  where  was 
waged  a  bloody  fight  over  a  liberty  pole  in  my 
great-grand-father's  day,  his  house  standing  but 
across  the  way,  was  all  burned  up,  and  a  sad  pitty 
it  is  we  both  agreed,  and  so  away,  remarking  on 
the  many  fires  of  last  week  in  Gouverneur  Morton 
his  offices,§  where  the  pretty  scrivener  girl  was 
found  shot  dead  ||  last  year,  and  in  Harlaem  vil 
lage,  all  on  one  night,  and  that  a  night  of  revels. 
So  came  home  fearthsome  of  more  fire-deviltry  but 
marvelled  on  the  way  to  see  so  many  astride  of 
these  new  fangled  wheel-machines,  pushing  the 
engines  with  their  feet,  swifter  than  any  coach, 
yet  no  dignity  to  them,  what  with  hunching  up 
their  back  and  making  a  wry  face. 

St.  Valentine  s  Day. — The  post  boy  coming  to 
the  door  with  sundry  letters  I  took  them  out  of 
his  hands  and  finding  them  meant  for  my  wife 
stood  by  while  she  broke  the  seals,  lest  they  come 
from  some  saucy  gentleman,  and  she  sorely  vexed 
till  all  being  opened  none  were  found  to  displease 
me  but  our  butcher  his  bill,  very  extravagant,  and 
so  was  laughed  at  for  my  pains,  untill  I  must 
needs  fling  out  of  the  house  in  a  mighty  rage,  yet 
glad  at  heart  that  none  came. 

^|  To  mine  office,  but  mine  affairs  so  distracting 
that  I  up  and  to  Polly's  house,  having  lately  heard 
how  her  husband  be  gone  avoyaging,  and  glad  to 
find  her  alone,  but  she  very  coy  and  made  feign 
not 

J  See  previous  note  (editor  of  Century  Magazine). 
§  An  office  building  on  Nassau  Street. 
||  Reference    to    the    unexplained    death    of   a    young 
typewriter,  found  shot  through  the  temple. 
[28] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

not  to  take  my  valentine  present  in  good  part,  yet 
merry  withal  in  remembrance  of  former  days, 
when  who  comes  in  but  my  wife,  the  cunning 
rogue,  with  many  bitter-sweet  wordes  to  Polly,  as 
women  will,  and  Polly  for  very  spite  must  display 
her  present,  with  not  a  word  who  was  her  valen 
tine,  until  at  a  losse  indeed  what  to  say,  I  away 
with  my  wife,  and  spake  not  a  word,  and  so  to 
bed  very  ruefull  at  mine  own  folly,  my  wife  cry 
ing  out  aloud  in  the  midst  of  the  night,  how  I  am 
a  cruell  black  villain,  and  I  at  great  pains  to  soothe 
her  with  the  promise  of  a  new  hatte  and  to  go  to 
the  play  on  the  morrow. 

Fifteenth. —  A  sorry  breakfast  with  not  a  smile 
from  my  wife  for  all  my  brave  talk  and  quippes, 
making  me  feel  a  fool  indeed  and  at  fault,  and  so 
to  mine  office  very  busy  with  affairs  of  all  kindes. 
Yet  bethought  me  to  fetch  some  flowers  home  to 
dinner,  my  wife,  poor  wretch,  still  sorrowfull,  but 
pricked  up  her  ears  to  hear  me  prate  of  newe 
cloathes  for  us  all,  and  so  to  the  play  house  to  see 
Helen  Modjeska  do  Lady  Macbeth,  which  though 
I  have  often  seen  is  yet  one  of  the  best  plays  for 
the  stage,  and  it  did  my  heart  good  to  hear  her  say 
"  out  damned  spot "  in  her  quaint  foreign  speech 
that  becomes  her  tongue  so  well.  Anon  my  wife 
falls  to  blenching  and  to  tremble  at  the  fierce  talk 
of  the  witch-hags,  and  so  came  away  ere  the  play 
was  out,  to  sup  at  the  Astoria  hostelry  with  many 
fine  gentle  folk  and  were  again  of  good  cheer. 

Sixteenth. —  On  this  day  did  news  reach  here  of 
the  horrid  disaster  that  did  befall  our  good  ship  the 
Maine,  as  gallant  a  man-o'-war  as  ever  sailed  the 
Spanish  seas,  now  sunk  and  rent  asunder  in  Ha 
vana  harbor,  with  her  crewe  all  dead.  But  the 
officers  were  saved,  having  been  called  on  shore 
all  save  Captain  Sigsbee  writing  in  his  cabin  until 
the  ship  went  down.  'Twas 

[*9] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

^f  'Twas  indeed  a  hellish  plot  of  the  Spaniard,  as 
all  are  agreed,  and  if  it  be  proven  we  must  never 
rest  untill  we  drive  the  accursed  Spaniards  from 
the  Antilles  and  all  the  Spanish  main. 
^[In  the  afternoon  met  Dr.  Seth  Low,  and  en 
tered  into  deep  talk  with  him  anent  this  our  great 
calamity,  he  counselling  moderation,  but  I  resolved 
in  my  heart  to  draw  mine  own  sword  to  help 
avenge  their  bloody  villainy,  should  ever  the  time 
come.  So  to  bed,  my  heart  full  of  war,  but  with 
never  a  word  to  my  poor  dear  wife. 

Nineteenth. — To  Morningside  hill  to  see  the 
Board  of  the  Teachers  Coledge  welcome  Doctor 
Low,*  the  head-master  of  the  university,  to  their 
coledge,  and  there  met  many  dons  and  old  coledge 
friends  glad  to  see  me  established  in  mine  new 
estate,")"  and  full  of  praise  at  such  ample  halls  and 
worthy  pictures  adorning  the  walls  on  all  sides, 
most  of  all  at  the  noble  chapell  J  with  richly 
paynted  windows  and  designs  wrought  of  gold, 
and  organ  pipes  wonderful  to  behold  but  better  yet 
to  hear.  In  sooth  a  chapell  worthy  of  a  bishop 
or  Pope's  cardinal.  In  the  evening  did  hear  my 
friend  Master  Kneisel,  and  Rafael  Joseffi,  the  deft 
est  player  left  us  since  the  Pollack  musician  §  be 
gone  away,  make  sweet  musick  in  the  white  and 
gold  hall  of  the  music  guild, ||  the  best  that  ever  I 
heard  or  hope  to  hear  Master  Haydn  his  quartette 

played, 

*  Reception  given  to  Seth  Low,  President  of  Columbia 
University,  upon  the  incorporation  of  Teachers'  College 
in  the  University. 

f  The  diarist's  appointment  to  the  college  secretary 
ship. 

J  Milbank  Memorial  Chapel,  newly  added  to  the 
college. 

§  Ignace  Paderewski. 

II  Mendelssohn  Glee  Club  Hall. 

[30] 


Pepys's  Gbost 

played,  my  wife  highly  edified  by  Joseffi  his  play 
ing,  but  the  fiddle  better  to  my  liking. 

Lord's  Day. —  Lay  long  in  bed  intent  upon 
strange  noises  from  the  River,  my  wife  wondering 
what  they  meaned  and  fearthsome  lest  a  shippe  be 
sinking,  but  learned  later  that  it  was  because  of 
thick  fogges  brewed  by  the  horrid  fall  of  rain  what 
despoiled  our  clothes  late  last  night.  Up,  and 
found  the  weather  turned  fair  indeed,  like  a  day 
in  Aprill,  but  exceeding  high  winds,  playing  the 
rogue  with  good  women  on  their  way  to  church, 
but  we  instead  to  the  Paynters'  Guild  *  for  to  hear 
my  friend  Master  Kneisel  play  his  fiddle  to  an  horn 
and  clavicymbal,  as  sweete  musick  as  ever  I  heard, 
and  a  rare  fiddle  too,  built  by  Signer  Stradivari  in 
Cremona,  so  he  proudly  tells  us. 

Monday. — Up  and  to  mine  office,  with  sundry 
riddles  to  vex  me,  untill  bethinking  me  of  how  we 
were  bidden  to  the  Old  Guards'  ball  in  their  newe 
arsenal. f  I  hastened  home,  my  wife,  poor  wretch, 
all  ready  as  fine  as  possible,  with  my  cloathes  layed 
upon  the  bed,  very  dexterous.  So  to  dinner  and 
then  took  coach  to  the  arsenal,  but  learned  they 
were  in  the  opera  house,!  anc^  lt:  was  indeed  a  glo 
rious  sight  to  see  so  many  rich  trappings  with  ac 
coutrements  of  gold  on  white,  but  I  sad  at  heart  to 
be  attired  in  sombre  black,  and  therefore  fetched 
my  wife  away,  she  complayning  sorely  of  her  newe 
pattens. 

Tuesday. — To  Daly's  playhouse  to  see  Mistress 
Rehan  act  Viola  rn  Shakespeare's  comedy  of  Twelfth 
Night,  George  Clarke  playing  Malvolio  better  far 
than  he  did  Sir  FalstafF  in  The  Merry  Wives  of 

Windsor 

*  American  Art  League,  West  57th  Street, 
•j*  Ball  given  in  honor  of  opening  of  new  armory  for 
the  "Old  Guard." 

^  Metropolitan  Opera  House. 

[3'] 


P  e  py  s's  Ghost 

Windsor  last  week,  yet  not  what  he  is  cried  up  to 
be.  A  jolly  comedy  withal,  pleasing  me  better 
than  Mr.  Congreve's  Love  for  Love,  what  I  saw 
played  the  other  night  by  Monsieur  Du  Font's 
players.  There  saw  I  Barrett  Wendell  his  brother 
Jack,§  a  merry  gentleman,  that  can  hold  his  own 
part  as  Sir  Andrew  Aguecheek,  as  brave  as  any  play 
actor,  and  Mr.  Towse,||  the  gazeteer,  full  of 
talke  on  Mr.  Lehman,  our  rowing  master  from 
Oxford,*  and  vaunting  his  own  strokes  with  the 
oar  when  he  was  a  young  blade  at  Cambridge 
Coledge. 

Wednesday. —  Spent  all  day  at  the  office  ;  a  peev 
ish  time. 

Thursday. —  To  Harlaem,  and  there  saw  The 
English  Princess,  or  Richard  the  Third,  at  the  vil 
lage  play  house ;  f  a  most  sad,  melancholy  play, 
Dick  Mansfield  j  taking  the  part  of  the  hunch 
back  king,  pretty  good,  but  not  eminent  in  it.  I 
glad  enough  to  shift  next  door  to  see  Pauline  Hall 
dance  a  jig  at  the  end  of  the  play. 

Friday. —  My  wife  having  dressed  herself  in  a 
silly  dress  with  a  long  gown  and  white  smock  un 
derneath,  and  a  hat  with  feathers  above,  for  to  ride 
her  velocipede,  though  I  think  she  did  it  because 
her  riding  dress  be  gone  to  the  tailor's,  did,  to 
gether  with  my  being  hungry,  which  always  teazes 
me,  make  me  horrid  angry,  till  at  length  I  forgot 
all.  Then  took  coach  to  the  Coledge,  on  Morn- 

ingside 

§  See  previous  note. 

||  Dramatic  critic  for  New  York  Evening  Post. 
*  English  amateur  coach  of  Harvard  Varsity  crews  in 
1897  and  1898. 

f  The  Harlem  Opera  House  on  West  I25th  Street. 
J  Richard  Mansfield,  actor  and  author. 


P  epy  sjs  G  b  o  s 

ingside  hill,§  there  to  hear  Harry  James  ||  his 
brother  Will,*  discourse  learnedly  on  the  Gospell 
of  Relaxacion,  a  lively  sermon,  full  of  pleasaunce, 
and  I  very  glad  to  see  him  agayne,  and  asked  after 
his  brother  and  what  romancing  tales  he  had  lately- 
writ,  likewise  after  his  kind  wife,  what  held  me  in 
her  arms  when  I  was  but  a  small  child.  So  end- 
eth  the  week,  thank  God,  in  good  season. 

Tenth. —  This  morning,  we  living  lately  in  the 
guest  chamber,  I  rose,  put  on  my  coat  with  great 
skirts,  having  long  not  worn  the  same,  and  with 
my  beaver  went  forth,  though  the  high  wind  dis 
tressed  me  greatly.  Then  I  went  to  Temple 
Court  and  borrowed  ten  shillings  of  my  brother 
George  for  my  own  use ;  for  these  two  or  three 
days  I  have  been  troubled  with  thoughts  how 
to  get  money  to  pay  them  that  I  have  borrowed 
money  of,  by  reason  of  my  own  money  having 
been  all  spent.  We  took  our  morning  draft  at 
Master  Lipton's  tap  room,f  he  and  I,  and  fell  to 
discourse  of  the  great  foolishness  of  our  three 
brothers,  who  took  sides  with  the  vain  Pretender 
of  the  West  Country. J  Then  I  went  to  my 
brother  George's  barber,  under  the  Temple  Court, 
and  was  trimmed  by  him.  At  my  office  I  found 
my  boy  Thomas,  who  told  me  that  two  gentlemen 
had  come  and  vexed  him  sorely  by  asking  of  their 
money,  but  I  made  light  of  it,  and,  giving  him  a 

shilling 

§  Columbia  University. 

j|  Henry  James,  novelist. 

*  William  James,  professor  of  psychology  at  Harvard 
University. 

f  The  "  Times  Cafe  "  at  the  end  of  Newspaper  Row, 
down- town  restaurant  most  frequented  by  writers  and 
artists. 

J  William  J.  Bryan,  candidate  for  the  Presidency. 

[33] 


P  e  py  s's  Ghost 

shilling  for  his  pains,  dispatched  him  forthwith  to 
the  hatter's  to  bring  him  my  beaver  that  had  been 
near  spoilt  by  drippings  from  the  eaves.  Whilst  I 
waited  for  his  coming,  in  comes  Master  Munkit- 
trick,§  the  merry  scribe,  and  entreateth  me  to  re 
turn  to  the  Elm  to  eat  and  drink  with  him,  but  alas 
I  could  not  go  forth  bareheaded.  So  he  went  forth 
very  wroth,  because  of  my  telling  him  how  some 
blunderers  are  wont  to  dub  him  monkey-trick, 
^f  With  my  beaver,  all  hot  from  the  iron,  comes 
my  wife  to  buy  her  a  pair  of  new  pattens  and  a 
whisp,  so  we  took  coach  to  the  old  shop,  and 
thence  to  the  Waldorf  to  see  her  friend,  Distress 
Harcourt  Bull,  make  musique  in  the  white  room 
of  the  Inn,  and  there  heard  her  play  the  new  he- 
roical  piece  of  Master  McDowell,  ||  truly  apt  be 
yond  imagination.  The  end  coming  too  late  to 
allow  of  us  to  see  the  fine  horses  of  the  town  at 
the  great  show,  we  again  took  coach  to  the  house 
of  our  friend,  Mr.  Steffens,*  who  came  forth  to 
meet  us  with  a  link  in  his  hand,  and  Mistress 
Steffens  and  my  wife  made  merry  over  his  late  tale 
in  the  Chap-Book,  yet  said  he  ruefully  he  had  re 
ceived  not  enough  for  his  pains.  After  drinking 
some  strange  and  incomparable  claret  we  all  went 
to  the  Play-House  together  to  behold  the  new  Irish 
opera,  Brian  Boru,  writ  by  Edwards  and  Stange, 
and  I  was  much  pleased  by  one  of  the  silly  love 
songs  and  must  play  it  soon  on  my  flageolet,  but 
heard  not  the  rest  because  of  laughing  inconti 
nently  over  a  droll  gentleman  with  binocles,  who 
having  left  his  lady,  sat  down  beside  my  wife  and 
began  to  discourse,  thinking  her  his  own  lady. 
While 

§  R.  K.  Munkittrick,  poet  and  humorist. 
||  MacDowelPs  Eroica. 

*  Lincoln  J.    Steffens,   city  editor  of  the    Commercial 
Advertiser y  and  writer  of  short  stories. 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

yet  laughing  I  perceived  his  honor,  the 
Recorder,  f  and  went  forward  to  where  he  sat  over 
the  pit,  thus  to  pay  my  respects.  He  was  pleased 
to  receive  me  most  graciously,  having  spoken  to 
me  but  briefly  the  last  time  he  held  court,  and 
asked  me  eagerly  what  was  become  of  an  daily 
pamphlet,  named  THE  TATTLER. J  i  edified  him 
very  fully,  whereon  he  with  much  marvel  spoke 
of  the  nimble  body  of  Amelia  Summerville,  §  the 
singer,  whom  he  remembered  to  have  known  so 
exceeding  plump  and  stout,  and  shrewdly  said  that 
it  was  all  the  cause  of  physic  and  repeated  wedlock. 
I  left  him  still  at  the  play,  and  the  cold  biting  less 
sharp,  my  wife  and  I  did  walk  to  Delmonico  his 
tavern  to  eat  of  a  roast  fowl  with  French  bubble- 
wine,  she  on  the  way  complaining  with  pain  of 
new  pattens,  and  I  vexed  to  go  so  slow.  And  so 
to  bed. 

Lord's  Day. —  Lay  long  hugging  my  bed,  un 
mindful  of  an  horrid  dinne  made  by  the  new  wench 
in  our  house  a-wringing  of  a  wake-up  bell,  albeit 
my  wife  arose  and  bid  her  beware  lest  I  grow  an 
gered.  Up  and  bethought  me  of  a  mirthsome  let 
ter,  writ  by  George  Carpenter, ||  a  don  at  the  col- 
edge  on  Morningside  Hill,  what  he  meant  for  his 
friend,  Jack  Pine,*  the  clerk  of  the  coledge  Board, 
fallen  by  error  into  my  hands,  highly  puzzling  in 
deed, 

f  James  W.  Goff.         —  ___ 

|  A  daily  newspaper,  devoted  to  literature  and  art, 
which  perished  after  a  meteoric  career  of  thirteen  issues. 
In  it  appeared  thirteen  of  these  Pepys  papers. 

§  Prima  donna  of  this  opera  company. 

||  George  R.  Carpenter,  professor  of  rhetoric  at 
Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology  and  Columbia 
University. 

*John  D.  Pine,  Secretary  of  Board  of  Trustees  ot 
Columbia  University. 

[35] 


P  e py  s's  Ghost 

deed,  and  I  answering  him  in  querisome  manner  my 
letter  must  needs  fall  into  the  hands  of  Will  Car 
penter^  another  don  at  the  coledge,  a  very  comedy 
of  errors,  like  unto  that  one  of  our  playwrights. 
So  we  resolved  to  dine  together,  and  meeting  at  the 
Players'  Guild  in  Gramercy  Square,  did  make  merry 
over  the  matter.  Mr.  Robertson,  a  pamphleteer  just 
arrived  from  over  seas,  joining  our  jocund  com 
pany  with  high  talk  of  Master  Zangwill,{  Felix 
Adler,§  the  lay  preacher,  and  Colonel  Ingersoll,|| 
his  blasphemies,  very  edifying,  until  Jack  Corbin,* 
the  scribe,  comes  in  from  Franklin  Square,  in  a 
frocke  coat  with  great  skiites,  silken  lined  inside 
with  a  puff  cravatte,  very  lavish,  shaming  me  so 
in  mine  office  clothes,  that  I  feigned  to  be  wearied, 
the  talke  turning  on  how  poir  a  thing  is  Will 
Shakespeare  his  Hamlet  and  other  tragick  plays, 
and  came  away  vexed. 

Monday. —  To  the  Avenue  Theatre  to  see  Helen 
Modjeska  play  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots,  a  new  part 
and  very  becoming,  the  Pollack  brogue  of  her 
tongue  no  blemish  but  indeed  lifelike,  for  it  was 
remarked  how  that  poor  queen  could  never  learn 
how  to  speak  like  an  English  woman,  nor  Scottish 
woman  neither,  so  trained  was  she  in  the  ways  of 
the  French  and  Popery. 

Wednesday. —  Homeward  bound  and  meaning  to 
tarry  nowhere,  I  nigh  passed  by  the  door  of  the 
late  Monsieur  Bial,ff  his  musick  hall,  but  hearing 

sounds 

•j-  William  E.  Carpenter,  professor  of  Columbia  Uni 
versity. 

J  Author  of  Children  of  the  Ghetto,  and  other  stories 
of  Hebrew  life. 

§  President  of  Society  for  Ethical  Culture. 

||  Robert  G.  Ingersoll,  noted  lawyer  and  infidel. 

*  See  previous  note. 

ffKoster  and  Rial's  Music  Hall. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

sounds  within,  I  did  enter  for  all  my  pious  broken 
oaths,  and  there  beheld  Remenyi,  J  the  Hungarian 
fiddler,  who  did  once  travell  and  play  with  Master 
Brahms,§  lately  come  to  his  death,  the  first  time 
I  have  heard  him  play  since  the  day  he  made  the 
benches  and  barristers  weep  in  the  General  Assizes 
what  time  he  designed  to  prove  that  the  Duke  of 
Cambridge  his  stolen  fiddle,  built  by  Master  Stra 
divari  of  Cremona,  was  but  cheap  stuff,  yet  could 
not  save  his  friend  the  fiddle  maker  on  Union 
Square  from  being  convicted  a  thief,  albeit  he  walks 
the  streets  a  free  man  to  the  great  shame  and  con 
tempt  of  our  Law  and  Courts  of  Justice.  || 

Friday. —  To  the  opera,  my  wife  and  I,  she 
wearing  her  dancing  smock  and  necklace  about  her 
bare  neck,  but  I,  alas,  in  black  broad  cloth  only 
for  my  waist  coat  of  silk  and  white  linen  shirt,  and 
heard  Doctor  Faustus  sung  in  Italian,*  but  grew  ex 
ceedingly  weary  of  how  it  was  done,  and  coming 
forth  did  debate  whither  to  turn,  my  wife  eager  to 
go  to  the  Astoria  hostelery,  there  to  dance  for  to 
help  the  poor,  but  I  longing  to  go  to  the  great 
Spanish  Garden,  to  behold  the  masquelyns  of  the 
Singers'  Guild,f  and  so  took  coach  to  either,  one 
after  another,  and  a  marvellous  sight  indeed  to  see 
the  masque  Arion  and  his  antick  henchmen,  with 
rag,  tag  and  bob  tail,  till  early  in  the  morning,  and 
we  still  supping  by  daylight  with  Carl  Hauser,ft 
the  master  of  the  revels,  a  frolicksome  merry  man 
indeed,  with  great  store  of  quips  and  jestes,  as  be 
came 

|  Eduard  Remenyi. 
§  Johannes  Brahms. 

||  See  previous  note  on  famous  Stradivarius  trial. 
*  Gounod's  Faust. 
f  Arion  Club. 

ff  Former  editor  of  Puck,   and  popular  German  hu 
morist. 

[37] 


P  e py  s's  Ghost 

came  his  office.  A  costly  night  it  was,  God  for 
give  our  folly,  so  I  must  forswear  to  see  the  Moors 
walk  their  best  steps  for  the  prize  of  a  cake,  on 
this,  their  hollyday  to-morrow. § 

First  Day  of  March. —  The  newe  month  coming 
in  not  like  unto  a  lion,  but  as  a  very  lamb  indeed, 
maketh  me  fear  for  the  issue  lest  the  end  likewise 
be  changed  out  of  its  proper  course,  but  my  wife 
rejoiceth  the  more,  hoping  to  wear  her  Easter  day 
cloathes  before  the  coming  of  that  holiday. 
^f  So,  having  prinked  herself  in  her  newe  hat  and 
silken  frock,  and  I  wearing  my  glossy  beaver  and 
lacquered  shoen,  we-  to  the  free  stage  ||  in  the 
Berkeley  School  across  the  way  from  the  new 
Guild  hall  of  our  Benchers  and  Barristers  *  to  see 
the  Criterion  players  give  Te  Create  Galahault^\ 
or  the  Tongue  of  Slander^  a  tragick  piece  lately 
turned  from  the  Spanish  into  English  wordes  by 
Mistress  Banks,!  herself  playing  Donna  Cristina, 
an  honest  woman  willy-nilly  made  dishonest  by 
the  prating  tongue  of  the  town,  and  I  glad  to  see 
the  poor  wretch  in  her  lover's  arms  at  last,  well 
rid  of  her  foolish  husband  who  drawing  sword  to 
avenge  his  honor  lost  it  all  the  more  and  life  to 
boot.  Truly  an  ingrate  part  for  any  play  actor 
but  above  all  for  Eben  Plympton  what  did  it,  tho 
it  be  to  his  best  ability,  John  Blair,  as  the  lover, 
outshining  him  in  all  points,  and  looking  for  all 
the  world  like  Mr.  Carteret,ft  tne  pamphleteer  that 
writheth  under  the  Sign  of  the  Setting  Sun  together 

with 

§  Annual  cake  walk  in    Madison    Square    Garden    on 
the  night  of  Lincoln's  birthday. 
||  The  Independent  Theatre. 
*  Club  house  of  New  York  Law  Association. 
f  El  Gran  Galeotto,  by  Echegaray. 
J  Maude  Banks. 
•]•  j-  Reporter  for  New  York  Evening  Sun. 

[38] 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

with  Acton  Davies,||  the  play-going  scribe,  whom 
we  found  sitting  in  the  pit,  very  nigh  unto  us 
giving  little  heed  to  those  about  him,  least  of  all 
to  Mr.  Barry,  the  author  now  likewise  become  a 
play-going  scribe  for  the  book  printers  of  Franklin 
Square,  though  he  was  erstwhile  his  friend,  but 
now  sat  close  to  him  and  feigned  to  know  him 
not.*  Anon  came  in  Master  Coward,f  a  gentle 
spoken  scribe  indeed,  and  I  showing  him  his  antick 
protraiture  printed  in  the  play  bill  from  a  squib 
lately  drawn  by  Monsieur  Fornaro,J  he  becomes 
very  merry  and  with  wry  laughter  vaunteth  him  on 
his  new  fame,  likening  it  to  that  of  some  great 
rogue  clapped  into  the  stocks. 

Eighth. —  To  Chelsea  Square  to  Dick  Hovey  § 
his  house,  what  writheth  vagrant  songs  but  is  now 
become  a  sonneteer  forsooth,**  and  found  him 
dwelling  with  his  wife  in  a  cozy  small  house  look 
ing  out  upon  the  minster  and  great  Cleric  Col- 
ledge,  where  he  did  once  study  for  orders,  before 
his  heart  was  turned  to  writing  of  songs  and  such 
like  gawds.  Not  knowing  whither  to  turn  for  a 
good  meal  in  that  part  of  town,  we  bethought  us 
of  an  Italian  tavern  near  Gramercy  Square,  erst 
while  known  as  that  of  Roversi,  but  now  fallen 
into  decay,  yet  resolved  we  to  go  there  because  of 
a  merry  roystering  song  there  composed  by  our 

poet 

1 1  Dramatic  editor  of  New  York  Evening  Sun. 

*  Allusion  to  a  journalistic  unpleasantness  growing  out 
of  an  unfavorable  review  of  one  of  John  D.  Barry's 
books. 

f  Dramatic  editor  of  New  York  World. 

j  Cartoonist  for  New  York  Herald. 

§  Richard  Hovey,  poet  and  author  of  Songs  of  Vaga- 
bondia  and  Round  Table  plays. 

**  Allusion  to  series  of  love  sonnets  published  in  the 
Century  Magazine. 

[39] 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

poet  to  his  friend,  of  the  which  I  remember  but 
this  part,  having  sung  it  all  once  a  time  we  were 
in  our  cups  : 

Barney  McGee,  Barney  McGee, 
You  who  were  always  the  one  to  befriend  a  man, 
You  who  were  always  the  first  to  defend  a  man, 
You  who  had  always  the  money  to  lend  a  man, 
Down  on  his  luck,  and  hard  up  for  a  V. 

*[[  So  to  Roversi's  tavern,  but  found  it  much 
changed,  for  the  worse,  yet  dined  in  good  spirits 
with  high  talke  of  war  with  the  Spaniard  and  of 
his  villainy.  I  calling  for  a  bottle  of  Lacbrymce 
Christi,  that  curious  foaming  wine  what  deriveth 
its  heat  from  the  hidden  fires  of  a  volcano-moun 
tain,  and  anon  for  another  bottle,  when  deeming 
us  to  be  silly  with  drink  they  did  bring  us  more 
than  was  called  for,  and  so  arose  angry  wordes 
with  the  hostess  she  yielding  not  and  I  not,  no  not 
one  bit,  untill  I  telling  her  in  the  Italian  tongue 
that  I  was  but  a  poor  man  not  having  so  much 
money  with  me,  she  turneth  tauntingly  upon  Dick 
Hovey,  the  minstrel  of  the  place,  but  he  did  con 
fess  most  ruefully  that  he  fiad  but  a  few  pence, 
whereon  she  became  highly  enangered  and  feigned 
to  call  aloud  for  the  constable  his  officers,  so  I 
paid  down  a  part  of  her  price,  tho  it  was  indeed  a 
cheat,  and  commanding  the  scullion  to  come  with 
us,  suffered  him  to  walk  along  with  us  to  Dick 
Hovey  his  house,  I  dwelling  too  afar,  and  there 
made  some  shift  to  satisfy  the  landlord's  debt,  to 
my  great  shame  and  lasting  grudge  agaynst  all 
Italians. 

March    Twelfth. —  To  the  wommen   their  new 
study  hall,  hight  Barnard  Coledge  *  after  the  late 

don 

*  Public  opening  of  new  Barnard  College  buildings,  on 
the  Boulevard  and  I  I9th  Street. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

don  of  the  University,f  and  found  it  standing 
strong  and  fair  on  Morning-side  hill  in  the  very 
spot  where  was  fought  the  great  battelle  of  Harlaem 
Plains,  as  yet  to  be  seen  in  the  highly  remarkable 
bronze  portraiture  of  Major  Knowles  so  cunningly 
wrought  in  the  outer  wall  of  the  University. J 
There  met  we  a  great  thronge  of  folk,  come  from 
near  bye  and  from  afar  in  carriages,  on  two  wheeler 
machines  and  afoot,  arrayed  in  fine  garments,  least 
wise  the  wommen,  and  I  glad  to  be  in  my  long 
frock  coate  with  skirts  and  my  beaver  hat  newly 
ironed,  with  my  wife  wearing  her  flounced  silk 
skirte  only  made  to-day. 

^[  So  in  by  the  greate  court  with  bows  and  courte 
sies  on  all  sides,  under  the  stone  escutcheons  of  ye 
old  King's  Coledge,  and  so  came  under  a  noble 
yellow  lanthorn,  round  and  big  like  the  moon, 
highly  marvellous  to  behold  and  a  costly  gawd  in 
deed.  Then  paid  we  our  respects  to  the  Deaconess 
of  the  coledge,§  a  sweet  faced  and  pleasant  spoken 
gentle  woman,  richly  dressed  in  a  gown  of  gray 
moyre  silke,  with  great  bunches  of  little  field  violets 
fastened  on  her  breast  and  in  her  girdle,  and  passed 
thence  to  the  great  council  room  of  the  Board, 
very  stately  with  paynted  effigies  of  erstwhile  dons 
uponne  the  walls,  I  highly  edified,  untill  my  wife 
shewing  me  the  dust  gather  upon  the  round  table 
and  chairs  made  of  ye  polished  wood  of  the  red 
mahogany  tree,  I  grew  to  think  less  of  it  all,  and 
so  pushed  onward  to  the  musick  hall,  and  found 
it  a  droll  toy  of  a  play  house,  with  good  cheer  set 
out  upon  the  tables  and  young  gentle-wommen  in 

cap 

•j-A.    P.    Barnard,    late   president   of   Columbia    Uni 
versity. 

J  Bronze  memorial  tablet  placed  there  by  the  "  Sons 
of  the  Revolution." 

§  Emily  James  Smith,  dean  of  Barnard  College. 

[4'] 


P  e  p  y  s's  G  b  o  s  i 

cap  and  gown  ready  to  guide  the  way.  There  be 
held  I  Mr.  Austen  G.  Fox,  the  cunning  barrister 
that  strived  to  convict  those  false  officers  of  the 
constabulary  brought  to  trial  in  our  last  court  of 
Oyer  and  Terminer  by  Recorder  GofF  and  the 
Reverend  Doctor  Parkhurst,||  and  so  shook  hands 
unmindful  of  our  quarrell  what  time  he  spoke  too 
freely  at  our  coledge  banquet.  My  wife  deep  in 
talke  with  him,  some  one  plucks  me  by  the  sleeve 
and  I  turning  about  God  forgive  me,  am  overjoyed 
to  behold  Polly  standing  close  unto  me,  her  silly 
husband  with  her,  but  scarce  had  he  greeted  me, 
she,  cunning  rogue,  makes  shift  to  ask  him  to 
fetch  her  some  cakes,  and  so  we  two  stood  alone 
together,  and  I  glad  in  my  heart  to  have  it  so, 
untill  he  coming  back  must  needs  accost  my  wife, 
and  so  spoyled  all,  my  wife  none  too  courteous  to 
Polly  making  the  naughty  witch  to  laugh  to  the 
high  anger  of  my  wife,  and  shall  hear  more  of  this 
anon,  I  wot. 

^f  Coming  from  the  coledge  it  was  curious  to  see 
the  little  hamlets  of  the  free  tenants  or  squatter 
people,  with  goats,  swine  and  fowl  running  to  and 
fro  within  the  yard  built  up  close  beside  the  great 
fence  of  the  university  wrought  of  iron  and  stone 
posts,  each  one  of  them  as  high  as  their  most  high 
roof  tree  whereon  I  did  moralize  to  my  wife  how 
it  be  pretty  to  see  high  and  low  dwell  so  nigh  one 
unto  another,  but  she  heard  me  not  out,  but 
dubbed  me  cruell  villain  and  other  unseemly 
words. 

Lord's  Day  [<?#/£]. —  A  wet,  stormy  day,  soyl- 
ing  the  streets  more  than  ever  this  sen'night,  so 

lay 

||  Criminal  trials  of  police  officers,  charged  with  black 
mail  and  bribery,  following  upon  the  revelations  made 
during  the  sessions  of  the  so-called  Lexow  Committee,  in 
1 894.  Mentioned  in  previous  note. 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

lay  long  in  bed  glad  of  my  warm  shelter.  Anon 
comes  my  friend  Mr.  Inglis,  the  merry  scribe  who 
writheth  under  the  sign  of  the  Globe  *  and  was  so 
warm  a  friend  to  Anthony  Hope,f  what  time  he 
dwelt  amidst  us,  to  fetch  me  with  him  to  board  the 
Spaniard  ||  that  lately  came  into  our  Harbor.  So 
to  the  Battery  and  there  telling  of  our  names  and 
errand  were  taken  into  the  cabin  of  a  custom's 
cutter,  and  so  sailed  out  into  the  Bay,  sea  spray 
and  mist  flying  all  about  us,  the  skipper  mixing  us 
a  good  stiff  grog,  with  loud  and  angry  talke  of 
War  with  Spain  because  of  the  sad  sinking  of  the 
Maine,  our  newe  man-of-war,  with  nigh  all  her 
crewe  in  the  Antilles. J 

*[[  Master  Inglis  he  setteth  down  all  these  rash 
wordes  for  Gospell  truth  for  to  print  them  in  his 
gazette,  which  pretends  to  be  in  high  heat  for 
War,  laughing  the  while  sidewise  at  me,  but  I  in 
great  distress  and  agony  by  reason  of  our  so  tum 
bling  about  and  pitching  back  and  forth,  untill,  the 
smelle  of  the  rum  sickening  me  more  than  I  could 
bear,  I  up  to  the  deck  and  was  there  overwhelmed 
by  an  incontinent  rude  wave  what  left  me  all  wet 
and  dripping  to  the  lasting  disparagement  of  my 
cloathes.  Coming  in  sight  of  the  Spaniard,  a  trim, 
gallant  ship  bearing  the  name  of  Vizcaya,  meaning 
the  Bay  of  Biscay,  upon  her  bow,  garnished  with 
a  fierce  fighting  ram,  I  hailed  her  in  a  feeble  voice, 
the  others  coming  to  mine  aid,  and  so  brought  up 
alongside  and  were  courteously  admitted  to  her 
main  deck,  the  Captain,  Senor  Eulate,  believing 
Mr.  Inglis  to  be  a  Spaniard,  because  of  his  swarthy 
mien,  untill  he  heard  his  name  and  foreign  speech. 
So 

*  Special  writer  for  New  York  Herald  and  World. 
•j-  Author  of  Prisoner  of  7*endat  Rupert  of  Hentzau, 
etc. 

J  February  15,  1898.  ||  La  Vizcaya. 

[43] 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

So  chatted  with  the  officers  and  crewe  for  a  while 
and  I  very  glad  to  have  some  knowledge  of  the 
Spanish  tongue,  but  found  them  proud  and  haughty, 
as  it  is  their  wont,  yet  ready  to  deplore  our  late 
misadventure  in  their  waters,  protesting  it  to  be  an 
act  of  God,  and  in  no  wise  their  fault,  and  so  came 
away,  Mr.  Inglis  writing  them  down  as  defiant  and 
highly  provoking,  thereinafter  duly  set  forth  in  his 
gazette. 

Monday  \2ist^ . —  My  throate  swelled  up  be 
cause  of  the  raw  salt  water  blowing  into  my  gullet 
yestere'en,  I  went  not  near  mine  office,  drinking 
warm  gruel  and  like  noisome  physick.  After 
dinner,  mine  condicion  improving,  we  to  a  merry 
masque  on  Morningside  hill,§  all  there  arrayed  in 
antick  gowns  and  robes  with  powdered  peri  wigs, 
my  wife  wearing  a  quaint  flowered  smocke  of  East 
Indy  muslin,  bequeathed  her  by  my  grandame,  and 
I  in  a  wig  fit  to  make  a  cleric  laugh,  and  so  whiled 
away  the  time  with  dancing  and  musick,  very  joy 
ful,  untill  I,  bethinking  me  of  the  solemne  banquet 
held  in  honor  of  my  coledge  and  Mr.  John  Har 
vard,  ||  Sir  Downing,  his  dominie,*  hied  me  home 
to  disrobe  and  thence  to  Delmonico's  Tavern, 
feasting  there  and  giving  ear  to  mighty  discourse 
untill  late  of  the  night,  awhilst  the  wassail  cup 
went  the  rounds. 

Twenty-second. —  Another  holyday  and  I  highly 
contented  thereat,  mine  head  nigh  splitting  from 
the  carouse  of  the  night  before.  To  Polly's  house, 
her  husband  still  tarrying  abroad,  and  did  perswade 
her 

§  Reception  of  Lady  Washington  in  College  Hall  of 
Columbia  University. 

||  Annual  dinner  of  Harvard  Club  of  New  York. 

*  Presumptive  pastoral  relations  between  John  Harvard, 
preacher,  and  George  R.  Downing,  as  quondam  theo 
logical  student  at  Cambridge,  Mass. 


P  e  py  s's  Ghost 

her  to  come  along  to  a  bench  and  kennel  show  of 
all  manner  of  dogges  and  hounds  in  the  Spanish 
garden,f  but  the  noise  and  barks  of  their  yelps  so 
distracting  that  we  went  out  into  the  street,  and  to 
Daly  his  playhouse  once  more  to  see  Mistress 
Rehan  in  the  Country  Wife,  a  droll  play  I  grow 
not  tired  of,  making  Polly  to  laugh  so  loudly  where 
the  country  jade  runneth  about  in  boy's  breeches, 
to  the  great  discomfiture  of  the  country  lout  her 
husband,  that  those  sitting  nigh  us  turned  to  look, 
and  lo,  there  was  Harry  Finck,  the  critickel  scribe 
who  writheth  under  the  sign  of  the  Post  boy,'! 
with  his  wife,  come  to  hear  the  musick  farce  played 
for  a  curtain  raiser  and  lingering  to  see  Rehan 
play,  full  of  strange  praises  for  her  cunning  ways. 
They  entreat  me  to  send  to  their  house  for  my 
black  gauntles,  left  there  by  me  more  than  a  twelve 
month  since,  with  not  a  curious  word  about  Polly, 
highly  forbearing  insooth. 

Twenty-fifth. —  To  the  house  of  Recorder  GofF, 
to  render  unto  him  a  report  on  our  poor  sailor's 
children  I  wrote  early  in  the  year  and  promised  to 
bring  him,  and  was  struck  dumb  with  admiracion 
of  his  rich  library  and  a  noble  harp  standing  up 
right  betwixt  all  his  bookes.  Shortly  he  comes  in, 
greeting  me  with  such  pleasant  wordes  as  of  old, 
when  he  was  but  a  poor  barrister,  pleading  his 
briefs  in  the  Assizes,  and  so  fell  to  talke  on  one 
matter  and  another;  lastly  of  the  sailor  men  on 
Staten  Island  and  their  poor  lot,  for  all  the  riches 
lavished  upon  their  spittel,  and  of  Governor  Dele- 
hanty,§  his  new  rule  highly  edifying.  When  this 
brave 

•j-  Annual  exhibition  of  prize  dogs  in  Madison  Square 
Garden.  |  New  York  Evening  Post. 

§  Lieutenant-Commander  Dennis  H.  Delehanty,  in 
ventor  of  self-opening  scows  and  governor  of  Sailors' 
Snug  Harbor  on  Staten  Island. 


P  epy  s 's  Ghost 

brave  Captain  was  called  to  the  spittel,  so  it  was 
told  me  by  a  sailor  man,  I  telling  it  again  to  Mr. 
Goff,  he  would  not  have  it  to  eat  better  food  than 
his  men,  but  beholding  dainties  and  rare  wines  set 
aside  for  him,  cried  aloud,  We  be  all  sailors  here  at 
one  messey  and  so  had  all  made  equal  between  them 
to  his  everlasting  praise  as  a  gallant  officer  and 
sailor  man.  So  leaving  my  report  in  the  Recorder's 
hands,  I  homeward  to  a  good  leg  of  lamb. 

First  day  of  April. —  Dining  with  Oliver  Heirord 
at  the  Players'  Guild,  on  Gramercy  Park,  we,  after 
that  he  had  vented  his  wrath  on  a  critical  fellow  || 
what  lately  thrice  miswrote  his  name  while  writing 
praise  of  his  drawings,  up  and  to  the  publick  sale 
of  the  late  Will  Stewart,  his  collection  of  paynt- 
ings,  and  there  were  amazed  with  admiration  at  the 
prices  fetched  by  Monsieur  Fortuny's  pictures, 
amongst  them  that  incomparable  portrayal  of  the 
naked  modellwoman  on  show  before  some  quizzi 
cal  gentlemen,  very  finely  paynted  indeed,*  like 
wise  some  rare  landskippes  by  the  Signer  Boldini, 
Italian  master,  whom  I  believed  to  paynt  none  but 
portraitures,  and  saw  there  sold  under  the  hammer 
most  estimable  master  pieces  of  Corot,  Madrazo, 
Zamacois,  Gerome,  and  Master  Meissonier,  him 
self  depicted  with  crooked  riding  legs,f  many  rich 
gentlemen  and  noble  ladies  bidding  for  them  all, 
and  sighing  to  see  them  sold  to  others,  until  Mas 
ter  Herford  must  needs  cry  aloud  his  bids  for  some 
comick  drawings  of  Monsieur  Gavarni  and  Le 
Comte  de  Noe,  what  signed  himself  Cham,  so  1 
drew  him  aside  affrighted  lest  he  commit  himself 
above  his  purse,  and  thus  went  our  way,  mine  own 
mouth  watering  for  Anthony  Romako's  portrayal 
of 

||  Sadakichi  Hartman,  Japanese-German  art  critic. 
*  Fortuny's  masterpiece,  "The  Model." 
•}•  Meissonier 's  portrait  of  himself. 
U61 


Pepys's  Ghost 

of  a  hunting  lady  with  an  arquebuse,  as  fair  as  ever 
I  saw,  or  Tadema  the  Dutchman's  paynting  of  an 
antick  stone  bench,  for  all  the  world  like  true  living 
marble,  a  most  cunning  trick.  Stepping  forth  into 
the  street,  lo  there  lay  a  handsome  bill  of  money, 
and  so  stooped  to  take  it  up,  but  found  it  only  a 
mean  April  fool's  jeast.  Alas  that  I  be  so  poor. 

Second. —  To  the  Spanish  Garden  to  see  ye 
troopers  and  cadets  from  West  Point  and  our 
Squadron  Barracks  drill  with  their  swordes  and 
carabines,  with  many  brave  deeds  of  horsemanship 
and  valor,  what  made  me  to  long  for  a  lunge  at 
the  Spaniard ;  nathless  our  quarrell  with  him,  if 
cause  for  quarrell  there  be,  must  needs  be  settled 
on  the  high  seas,  against  his  new  Armada,  else  will 
he  ever  more  hold  the  Antilles,  and  be  a  sharp 
thorne  in  our  side.  So  came  away  from  the  sol 
diers  their  tourney  full  of  high  resolves,  and  thence 
to  Chelsea  Square  to  hear  Dick  Hovey  read  me  his 
latest  romaunt,  The  Birth  of  Sir  Galahad,  and  like 
wise  heard  his  newest  sonnett,  full  of  light  and  joy 
of  strife,  a  noble  sonnett  indeed,  with  these  two 
lines  best  to  my  liking : 

"  Better  by  far  to  founder  in  the  fight 
Than  fail  to  share  the  glory  of  the  fray. ' ' 

^f  What  with  such  lofty  talke  of  poetry,  and  war, 
I  did  nigh  forget  to  render  unto  him  his  half  crown, 
proffered  me  as  a  loan,  what  time  I  could  not  pay 
the  high  cost  of  our  wine  at  Roversi's  Tavern  last 
month. 

Third. —  After  a  dull  day  at  mine  office  to 
Augustin  Daly  his  play  house  to  see  Mistress 
Rehan  play  Lady  Teazle  in  Mr.  Richard  Sheridan's 
comedy,  The  School  for  Scandal,  a  sprightsome 
piece  indeed  since  the  day  it  was  first  played  in 
Drury-Lane.  In  sooth  more  oft  I  see  this  play 

more 
f47l 


P  e  p  y  s's  Ghost 

more  do  I  like  it,  nor  grow  aweary  of  hearing  Sir 
Harry  Bumper  sing  that  roystering  song : 

"  Here"s  to  the  maiden  of  bashful  fifteen ; 
Here'  5  to  the  widow  of  fifty." 

^f  Mistress  Rehan  this  evening  thought  to  better 
her  part  by  the  playing  of  a  real  Italian  spinetto 
fetched  in  to  her  from  the  lobby,  with  great  ado, 
but  me  thought  it  could  have  been  spared,  and  yet 
the  play  been  no  less  comely. 

Fourth. —  Lay  long  in  bed  after  a  weary  night, 
my  wife,  poor  wretch,  arousing  me  many  times 
with  questions  what  of  Polly,  till  I  striving  to 
appease  her  did  promise  for  us  to  go  this  day  to 
see  Maude  Adams  play  the  Scottish  lassie  and  gen 
tlewoman  for  the  two  hundredth  fold  time  in  Mr. 
Barrie  his  new  piece  at  Garrick's  play-house,t  and 
so  went  to  sleep  at  last,  she  ill-appeased,  in  sooth, 
yet  glad  to  come  and  fetch  home  with  her  a  pretty 
bauble  for  a  keep  sake. 

April  Fifth. —  Our  Commissioners  sent  to  the 
Antilles  to  pry  into  what  did  befall  our  good  ship 
Maine  that  so  suddainly  blew  up  in  the  harbour 
of  La  Habana,  after  most  diligent  search  and 
divers  dyving  under  the  sea  have  found  that  she 
was  scuttled  from  without,  but  forbear  to  blame 
any  one  for  it.  This  is  forsooth  a  hellish  plot, 
and  so  God  help  may  be  avenged  by  us  anon. 
^[  There  is  no  way  out  of  it  but  I  must  prepare 
myself  for  War,  tho  there  be  some  of  our  State 
councillors  that  still  think  to  averte  what  all  men 
see  to  be  coming  to  a  certayn  head.  So,  after 
making  some  settlements  uponne  my  poor  Wife,  I 
to  Seth  Low,  his  office,  and  so  abdicate  mine 
office  as  secretary  of  the  Teachers*  Coledge.  It 
made  my  hearte  sad,  but  was  greatly  releaved  by 

Dr.  Low 

J  The  Little  Minister. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

Dr.  Low  his  promise,  to  have  my  full  stipend  paid 
unto  me  until  the  very  end  of  the  Academick 
calendar,  a  truly  noble  offer  indeed.  So  parted, 
with  many  kind  wordes  from  him,  proving  him  a 
friend  and  benefactor  to  me  that  I  will  surely  not 
forget,  no  never,  and  came  upon  Ned  Woodberry  § 
in  the  coledge  yard,  with  Harry  Taylor, ||  his 
fellow  don.  All  three  to  ye  Coledge  Tavern,  and 
did  there  tell  them  of  mine  abdication  over  a 
stoup  of  ale  and  hearty  chops  of  mutton,  to  theyr 
great  admiration  and  curiosity. 
*^  Quoth  Master  Woodberry,  thinking  to  jest  — 
An  wilt  Thou  take  service  as  a  Soldier^  Madcap  ? 
—  but  was  plainly  astonied  that  I  swore  by 
Heaven  I  would,  and  so  forebore  to  teaze  me. 
Thence  hot  foot  to  ye  officers  of  the  Muster 
Rolls  *  to  take  service  agaynst  the  Spaniard.  They 
did  strip  me  of  all  mine  cloathes  and  made  me  to 
hop  and  skip  this  way  and  that  way  on  one  foot, 
all  going  well  untill  the  chirurgickal  officer  f  must 
needs  hold  up  playing  cards  for  me  to  tell  from 
afar,  which  I  could  no  wise  do.  In  the  end  when 
I  did  proclaim  the  Knave  of  Spades  as  our  Ladye 
of  Clubbes,  he  did  crye  out  waxing  wroth  that  I 
be  blind  like  unto  a  batte  and  unfit  for  soldiers* 
service,  nor  would  listen  to  mine  excuses,  and  so 
drew  on  my  cloathes  and  came  away,  sore  puzzled 
how  to  carry  mine  end. 

April  6th. — Up  and  to  Bart  Arkell  J  his  office  ** 

where 

§  Prof.  George  E.  Woodberry,  see  previous  note. 

||  Henry  Taylor,  historian  and  lecturer  on  Mediaeval 
Literature. 

*Army  Enlistment  Bureau  on  the  Bowery. 

•f  Dr.  Poindexter,  Surgeon,  U.S.A. 

j  Manager  of  the  Arkell  Publishing  Company. 

**The  Judge  Building  on  lower  Fifth  Avenue,  New 
York. 

[49] 


Pcpys's  Ghost 

where  he  doth  print  his  Gazette  ||  and  Comickal 
Cartoons  *  and  telling  him  of  mine  abdication  of 
yestereen  and  cruel  slight  put  upon  me  by  the  of 
ficer  of  the  muster  jrolls,  do  entreat  him  to  despatch 
me  to  South  ward.  For  go  I  must,  if  not  as  a 
Soldier  sobeit  as  a  Gazeteer  of  War.  Then  did 
he  confess  to  me  how  he  hath  all  but  concluded 
contracts  with  Mr.  Schell,  the  ship  paynter,f  to 
let  him  proceed  South  ward  there  to  draw  portraits 
of  our  fleet  gathering  at  Key  West.  Whereupon 
I  made  mighty  argument  how  a  Gazette  can  no 
wise  subsist  on  pictures  alone,  but  must  have  a 
gazeteer  to  accompany  the  artist  for  to  explain  in 
written  wordes  that  which  t'other  hath  drawn  with 
his  brush.  Thus  was  he  pursuaded  to  summon  to 
his  side  his  elder  brother,!  what  had  his  face  scarred 
out  of  all  countenance  the  time  he  did  save  his 
sister  from  their  burning  house,  and  likewise  Mr. 
Sleicher,§  his  head  gazeteer,  that  hath  took  the 
place  of  Jno.  Gilmer  Speed,  the  merry  scribe,  and 
so  after  much  earnest  talke,  did  agree  among  our 
selves  at  last,  unmindful  of  Mr.  Sleicher's  remon- 
strations,  that  I  should  set  out  on  the  same  journey 
with  Mr.  Schell,  him  to  await  my  coming  this  very 
day  at  the  Broadstreet  Roadhouse  in  Quakerstown. 
Then  did  Mr.  Arkell  draw  a  bill  in  my  favor  for 
$500,  to  be  divided  betwixt  Mr.  Schell  and  myself, 
and  so  away  with  Bart  his  brother  to  printing 
house  square  to  ask  leave  of  Mr.  Hearst,**  what 

printeth 

\\Frank  Leslie' s  Weekly. 

*  Judge. 

•f  Frank  Cresson  Schell,  marine  artist. 

J  W.  J.  Arkell,  president  of  the  Arkell  Publishing 
Company. 

§  Editor  of  Leslie's  Weekly. 

**  W.  J.  Hearst,  publisher  of  the  New  York  Journal 
and  San  Francisco  Examiner. 

[so] 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

printeth  Ye  Journal!,  to  go  on  board  his  Despatch 
boat  Bucaneer.  Not  finding  him  in  his  office  I 
would  fain  seek  out  mine  old  friend  Sefior  Car- 
valho,*  brother  to  him  that  doth  tell  false  scriven 
ers  from  true,f  and  finding  him  at  his  writing  table 
did  present  the  two  to  one  another  and  was  mighty 
glad  in  my  heart  to  hear  them  agree  betwixt  them 
selves  to  let  us  twain  take  six  weeks'  passage  on 
the  Despatch  boat  for  but  $300  apiece,  or  $600 
untill  the  War  should  end.  Whilst  we  sat  thus 
talking  Mr.  Carvalho  complayned  sadly  how  that 
his  Master  Mr.  Hearst  had  lost  his  wager  for  $5,- 
OOO  that  War  should  be  declared  this  selfsame 
week,  but  Mr.  Arkell  strived  to  comfort  him  say 
ing  how  that  mighty  sums  of  money  might  be  won 
on  'change  if  I  would  contrive  to  despatch  early 
secret  news  of  the  first  battle  of  our  ships  at  sea, 
and  how  that  they  could  use  their  private  knowl 
edge  for  gain  if  they  would  but  agree  to  withhold 
it  from  the  publick  and  readers  of  their  gazettes. 
'Twas  a  sorry  plot,  methought,  and  so  I  said  priv 
ily  to  Bart  Arkell,  when  we  withdrew  for  a  fare 
well  draft,  but  he  passed  it  over  for  a  jeast  and  so 
parted,  he  to  send  word  to  Master  Schell  of  my 
coming,  and  I  to  my  poor  wife  to  break  the  news 
to  her. 

April  jib. —  Up  at  cock's  crow  my  wife  and 
children  still  abed  to  despatch  with  speed  for 
Quakerstown.  Whilst  eating  a  cold  hasty  pud 
ding  kept  for  me  overnight  was  aggrieved  to  hear 
mine  host  what  carries  a  blunderbuss  with  the  yeo 
men  of  the  Seventy-first  boast  how  his  Colonel  had 
absolved  him  with  others  that  had  taken  wives  to 
themselves,  and  so  forebore  to  tell  him  of  mine 
errand.  In  sooth  mine  ears  were  still  afire  with 

yesternight's 

*  Business  manager  of  New  York  Journal. 
•j-  Expert  specialist  for  handwritings. 

[5-] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

yesternight's  mad  entreaties  of  my  wife  who  would 
discountenance  all  warres  let  our  enemy  taunt  us 
as  he  will,  and  did  mourn  over  my  poor  fatherless 
children  which  I  left  unkissed  fearthsome  lest  I 
arouse  them  from  their  little  beds  and  so  wreak 
new  havoc  in  my  wife's  sorrow.  So  out  into  the 
cold  morning,  the  town  links  still  alight  and  no 
noises  of  loud  traffic  and  taking  boat  for  Jersey 
was  there  met  by  my  brother  George,  whom  I  did 
send  a  message  to  for  to  take  farewell,  and  so 
kissed  and  parted  he  stepping  from  the  coach  but 
after  it  was  underway.  A  prettie  landskip  verily 
to  behold  so  much  snow  through  the  coach  pane 
and  the  trees  standing  bare  and  black,  but  made 
me  mighty  weary  and  so  fell  asleep  nor  woke  not 
till  the  porter  drew  me  forth  at  the  relay  house. \ 
There  came  a  man  forward  the  whom  at  first  I 
did  believe  to  be  mine  eldest  brother  Harry  come 
from  his  wife's  free  hold  in  Germantown,  but 
greeting  me  by  name  found  him  to  be  Master 
Schell  a  kindly  frankspoken  man  who  grips  me  by 
my  hand  and  thus  were  good  friends  forthwith. 
Under  the  coach  shed  stood  his  good  wife,  amid 
quaint  painters'  tools  and  equippage,  wistfullike 
and  affrighted  till  I  speaking  kindly  to  her  did 
comfort  the  poor  woman  by  my  vow  to  take  good 
care  of  her  husband,  an  idle  promise  methought 
for  which  God  forgive  me. 

^|  Thence  to  coach  again  greatly  encumbered  by 
so  much  travail  gear  untill  growing  both  of  us  an 
hungered  from  our  early  fast  we  gladly  sate  us 
down  to  our  first  post  dinner  and  becoming  merry 
withal  despatched  a  toast  to  our  patrons  that 
sent  us. 

^[  Alight  in  Washington  he  to  some  tailors  to  buy 
him  a  great  rain  coat  but  found  not  what  he  wanted 

the 

J  Germantown  Junction. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

the  whilst  I  in  great  haste  to  the  Army  and  Navy 
Building  there  to  make  supplication  for  letters  that 
would  pass  us  twain  through  our  lines  of  soldiery 
and  on  board  each  and  every  man-of-war  of  our 
squadrons  should  ever  it  come  to  fight  indeed. 
Wandering  hither  and  thither  up  stairs  and  down 
stairs  in  the  great  building  was  I  sent  from  Peter 
to  Paul  and  found  everything  topsy-turvy  truly 
maddening  to  behold  and  all  the  talke  of  war  till 
one  gazeteer  a  whilom  friend  of  mine  did  pluck 
me  by  the  sleeve  and  took  me  before  Theodore 
Roosevelt,  second  Lord  Chancellor  of  the  Admi 
ralty.  A  more  busier  man  than  him  did  I  never 
set  eyes  on,  no  never,  taking  heed  of  my  supplica 
tion  with  one  ear,  listening  to  sundry  sea  captains 
with  the  other,  all  the  time  dictating  aloud  to  his 
clerks  yet  laughing  and  jeasting  with  the  former 
Lord  Chancellor  o'  Admiralty  §  come  to  see  him 
whom  he  held  grasped  by  the  hand  whilst  in  t'other 
he  crumpled  a  bunch  of  advices  just  brought  in 
from  our  spies  in  Madrid  and  Cadiz,  where  all 
alike  are  bent  on  war.  My  passport  made  out 
with  Mr.  Roosevelt's  signatured  duly  affixed  and  a 
letter  from  him  to  the  war  office  to  do  the  same 
for  me  there,  tho'  it  proved  the  first  such  like 
paper  writ  for  this  end,  I  thanked  him  warmly  and 
before  he  was  rid  of  me  asked  him  bluntly  whither 
I  should  turn  for  to  see  the  first  battle  waged  with 
the  galleons  of  Spain.  Then  he  did  look  me 
in  the  eye  and  showed  his  teeth,  but  I  holding  him 
tight  spake  at  last :  Were  I  in  your  shoes  I  should  get 
me  on  a  speedy  forerunner  and  haste  to  Puerto  Rico, 
for  'tis  most  likely  our  squadron  will  there  strike  upon 
the  Spanish  drmada  if  ever  she  leave  Cape  Verde  to 
come  our  way,  and  thereat  left  me  saying  how  he 
wished  me  luck  and  how  he  would  fain  be  there 

with 

§  Ex-Secretary  of  the  Navy  Herbert. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

with  a  brave  promise  in  the  end  to  leave  his  office 
and  take  a  hand  in  the  fray  whenever  it  come  to 
blows.  So  away  mighty  content  with  the  issue  of 
mine  errand  and  seeking  out  Master  Schell  at  the 
Arlington  Inne  drew  him  hence  and  so  again  took 
coach  on  our  journey  southward  with  none  for 
company  but  one  navy  lieutenant  ordered  to  his 
ship,  most  other  Southern  travellers  that  do  so 
commonly  this  season  not  dursting  to  venture 
forth  in  the  teeth  of  this  propounded  war. 

April  8tb. —  Up  late,  after  our  all  night  ride 
acoach,  and  alight  to  breakfast  at  Savannah,  and 
there  in  the  relay  house  I  marvelled  greatly  to  be 
pestered  with  so  many  flies  over  the  dishes  and 
had  been  fretted  still  more  but  for  blackamoor 
boys  standing  by  with  dried  leaves  from  palm  trees, 
all  about  us  having  changed  from  winter  to  sum 
mer  over  night,  so  long  a  stride  is  it  from  Gotham 
town  to  Savannah.  Thence  posted  onward  for  to 
catch  the  mail  boat  at  Tamperport  ||  and  thus 
riding  all  day  through  great  forest  of  pine  trees 
without  end  soon  became  friends  with  Mr.  Hill, 
the  navy  officer,  he  and  Master  Schell  getting 
mighty  thick  with  one  another  with  noble  dis 
course  of  ship  chandlery  and  sea  manoeuvres  but  I 
abstracted  in  my  book  MS.  what  I  have  agreed  to 
make  ready  for  the  printers  this  Spring.  Passing 
a  town  bearing  the  name  *  of  the  cross  ways 
that  be  there  brought  together  our  eyes  were 
gladdened  by  beholding  of  a  King's  palm  and 
Master  Schell  was  all  for  drawing  an  esquisse  of 
it,  but  were  aroused  from  our  converse  by  a  most 
horrible  noise  of  strife  in  the  front  of  the  coach. 
Uponne  thrustying  our  heades  through  the  door 
we  found  there  the  coach  porter  and  one  that 
claimed 

||  Port  Tampa. 
*  Waycross. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

claimed  to  be  his  friend  rolling  to  and  fro  on  the 
floor  of  the  coach  throttling  one  another  and 
swearing  blasphemous  oathes.  The  porter  coming 
uppermost  tother  snatched  forth  a  dag,  but  was 
incontinently  struck  from  his  hand  by  the  porter 
who  fell  to  beating  his  head  with  an  iron  punch 
clenched  in  his  fist  and  would  fain  kill  him 
had  his  friend  not  made  outcry  and  begged  to  be 
let  up.  So  each  comes  to  his  feet  again  their 
faces  besmirched  with  dust  and  blood,  and  having 
tiedied  themselves  the  porter  did  stop  the  coach 
and  thrust  out  the  other  by  the  way  side,  with 
complaynt  to  us  afterwards  how  the  man  had 
entered  unawares  intent  on  making  his  journey 
free  of  cost  knowing  the  porter  to  be  a  good 
friend  to  his  father,  a  worthy  man  with  foul  off 
spring  so  said  the  porter. 

1J  At  nightfall  we  close  on  to  our  journey's  end, 
and  so  forebare  to  sup,  our  navy  officer  boasting  to 
us  of  a  noble  inne  at  Tamperport,  but  lived  to 
rue  it,  fasting  late  beyond  all  endurance,  and  then 
alight  in  the  dark  and  scarce  seated  at  table  await 
ing  good  cheer  when  news  comes  to  us  how  we 
must  arise  and  aboard  lest  the  packet  boat  be  un 
moored  before  we  reach  her.  So  in  high  haste 
out  upon  the  wharf,  after  angry  payment  of  a 
shameful  bill  for  victuals  never  tasted  by  us,  and 
did  barely  get  aboard  in  season.  The  gang  plank 
withdrawn  I  with  much  ado  over  the  railing  of 
the  ship  to  reach  my  manuscript  to  a  friendly 
boatsman  what  sate  perched  high  on  the  outermost 
dock  spile  and  he  swore  to  despatch  it  faithfully  to 
the  printers  in  Boston  the  names  whereof  I  writ  on 
the  paper,  and  so  sailed  out  into  the  black  night 
with  sore  misgiving  of  the  issue. 

Good  Friday. —  On   board   packet  boat    Olivette, 
a  fine  roomy  vessel  but  mighty  empty  of  passa- 

giers, 
[55] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

giers,  so  we  had  the  deck  all  to  ourselves  and  so 
continued  throughout  the  day,  with  fine  warm 
weather  and  sunshine  albeit  a  high  sea  running 
from  the  strong  wind.  Eat  but  askance  of  the 
cabin  meals  lest  sea  sickness  overtake  me,  but 
came  out  scot  free,' thanks  be  to  God,  whereas 
Master  Schell  he  did  complayne  of  his  belly  and 
was  nowise  releaved  but  by  retching,  what  did 
tickle  the  fancy  of  our  navy  officer.  Yet  soon 
himself  was  in  no  better  way,  the  hot  sunne  and 
image  of  him  in  the  water  blistering  off  the  skinn 
of  his  face  and  burning  of  his  nose  red  and  blue 
like  unto  the  veriest  sotte,  and  was  constrayned 
to  confess  to  us  that  such  was  his  sorry  lot  all 
times  he  went  upon  the  water,  yea  since  he  first 
took  to  the  sea  a  mere  midshipman.  Seven  bells 
sounding  in  plain  sight  of  Keywest,  we  having 
sailed  beyond  a  hundred  leagues  with  buoys  plenti 
ful  all  about  us  in  token  of  reefs,  the  leadsman 
was  ordered  out  and  soon  calls  forth  his  soundings 
which  grow  ever  lesser  and  lesser  yet  untill  it 
passed  mine  understanding  how  so  big  a  ship  could 
draw  so  little  wate*.  Our  captain  he  leaneth  far 
over  the  side  and  peereth  sharply  into  the  waves 
when  lo  the  keel  beneath  is  heard  scraping  and 
skrunching  on  the  bottom  of  the  sea  and  in  a 
trice  our  good  ship  lurches  forward  and  is  caught 
amidships  on  a  coral  reef.  Then  did  the  boat 
swain  and  crew  fall  to  swearing  and  cursing,  yet 
it  avayled  them  naught,  since  there  we  lay  fast 
stuck  and  pounding  from  early  afternoon  till  long 
after  dark,  six  weary  hours,  and  might  have  been 
for  aye  but  for  the  high  tide  bearing  us  over.  So 
off  at  last  and  came  into  the  harbour  late  at  night 
amid  a  gallant  fleet  of  noble  war  ships  riding  at 
anchor  their  hulks  showing  black  against  the  dark 
sea.  To  the  Keywest  Inn,  a  blackamoor  lighting 

us 

[56] 


Pepysys  Gbost 

us  the  way  with  a  link,  and  there  after  much  ado 
found  lodging  for  the  night  and  so  to  bed  very 
weary  nigh  unto  midnight. 

April  p. —  A  hot  morning  with  the  streets  all 
adust  and  the  Inne  filled  of  guests  intent  upon  war, 
navy  officers,  sailors,  Cuban  rebels,  gazeteers  and 
such  like,  but  were  served  with  a  brave  breakfast 
and  there  beheld  many  guests  known  to  me  before, 
to  wit  jolly  Harry  Brownf  with  his  good  wife, 
Vince  Cook,J  who  was  wont  to  dine  with  us  at 
Pontin's  Tavern  §  what  time  Mary  Alice  Fleming 
was  before  the  New  York  Assizes  for  murder  done 
to  her  mother  ||  and  likewise  Carleton  Chapman,* 
the  draughtsman,  a  coxcomb  of  a  man,  that  would 
fain  set  himself  above  his  colleagues  yet  hath  not 
the  merit  to  sustain  it  Breakfast  done  Jack 
Spears  **  taketh  me  aside  and  offering  me  good 
cheer  poureth  forth  an  angry  tale  how  the  war  will 
never  come,  yet  he  lying  idle  for  six  weeks  and 
more  waiting  for  fight  and  naught  else,  a  piteous 
plight  indeed  but  might  be  worse.  So  I  left  him  to 
seek  out  Carl  Decker,  ff  for  to  present  to  him  the 
letter  writ  by  his  chief  Mr.  Hearst  commending 
me  to  his  favor.  A  churlish  fellow  I  found  him, 
loath  to  employ  the  commonest  civil  courtesies, 

and 

•j-  Correspondent  for  Philadelphia  Press  and  New  York 
Herald. 

J  Vincent  Cooke,  correspondent  for  Mail  and  Express. 

§  Old  down-town  restaurant  in  New  York  City. 

||  One  of  New  York's  sensational  criminal  trials  on 
charges  of  murder  by  poison,  resulting  in  acquittal  of  de 
fendant. 

*  Illustrator  for  Harper's  Weekly. 

**John  R.  Spears,  war  correspondent  for  New  York 
Sun. 

•j-j-  Correspondent  for  New  York  Journal,  credited  with 
the  sensational  rescue  of  a  Cuban  woman  prisoner  from  a 
Spanish  prison  in  Havana. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

and  none  too  pleased  with  the  letter  I  gave  him 
the  which  he  peevishly  thrust  into  his  breast  and 
turned  from  us  with  never  a  word  of  welcome. 
So  Master  Schell  and  me  to  the  haberdashers  to 
change  our  winter  gear  for  woven  hats  of  Panama 
straw  and  light  linens,  and  there  heard  much  talke 
of  General  Lee  §  his  coming  out  of  Cuba  this 
very  day,  his  boat  the  Fern  to  anchor  here  over 
night.  At  supper  we  all  very  merry  with  newe 
friends  at  every  turn,  and  soon  was  noised  abroad 
how  Genl  Lee  would  not  put  out  of  the  harbour 
of  La  Habana  mayhap  untill  midnight  or  early  on 
the  morrow.  Hence  took  coach  and  alight  at  El 
Teatro  San  Carlos  ||  to  hear  a  Spanish  musick 
chansonetta  named  Le  Salsa  di  Aniceta,  a  poor 
play  sprightly  done  tho  not  enough  Spanish  danc 
ing  to  my  mind,  withal  some  prettie  chalked  faces 
of  Cuban  Senoritas  about  us,  and  so  away  and  to 
bed  with  no  news  of  Gen'l  Lee  or  War. 

Easter  Sunday. —  Slept  late  untill  awakened  by 
the  dinne  of  Frank  Schell,  pushing  outward  with 
his  easel  to  portray  Gen'l  Lee  landing  at  the  Navy 
yard  and  arising  after  him  in  haste  did  behold  the 
light  house  skiff  that  bore  the  Gen'l  and  others 
fled  from  Cuba  riding  at  anchor  in  the  offing.  So 
to  the  wharf,  and  there  stood  over  long  under  the 
hot  sun,  hotter  than  ever  I  bore  it,  till  the  Gen'l 
safely  on  land  and  nothing  more  to  be  seen. 
Whilst  Schell  kept  to  the  room  deep  in  his  por 
trayal  of  the  landing  party,  I  to  the  tap  room  and 
fell  in  with  Fred  Remington  *  and  Dick  Davis  f 
whomst  I  last  met  with  Harry  Harper  on  Franklin 

Square 

§  Consul-General  Fitzhugh  Lee. 

||  Historic  playhouse,  where  the  Cuban  convention  was 
held  that  resulted  in  the  last  revolution  against  Spain. 
*  Frederick  Remington,  artist, 
f  Richard  Harding  Davis,  author. 


P  efys's  Ghost 

Square  at  home,  and  were  right  merry  all  three 
when  in  cometh  our  navy  officer  Lieutenant  Hill 
who  after  a  hearty  stroup  of  ale  biddeth  us  dine 
with  the  officers'  mess  on  the  Iowa,  and  so  made 
haste  to  summon  forth  Schell  since  the  Iowa  with 
our  other  heavy  battle  ships  of  the  line  be  kept 
well  out  to  sea,  two  leagues  and  more,  a  far  cry  to 
reach  in  time  for  dinner.  To  the  fleet  by  water, 
Dick  Davis  not  of  the  party,  and  aboard  the  low  a 
where  were  made  heartily  welcome  by  her  captain, 
what  goes  by  the  name  of  Fighting  Bob.J  Anon  he 
hath  the  ship  cleared  for  action,  feigning  the  enemy 
to  be  nigh,  and  forthwith  sounds  a  flourish  of 
trumpets  with  running  of  seamen  hither  and  thither 
eager  to  be  found  at  their  quarters,  the  midshipmen 
fetching  the  officers  their  cutlasses  and  dags  all 
highly  divertising  to  Fred  Remington.  This  done 
all  to  holy  service  much  edified  by  the  chaplin  his 
pious  Easter  sermon  on  the  Prince  of  Peace,  albeit 
not  meet  nor  fit  for  these  times,  and  so  to  mess  on 
slender  victuals  with  warm  beer  whereat  Fred 
Remington  he  maketh  a  wry  face  but  I  glad  to 
taste  of  a  sapodilla  fruit,  the  first  I  ever  eat  in  all 
my  life.  Later  our  friend  beckoneth  us  aside 
to  bear  us  with  him  to  his  cabin,  and  there  behind 
closed  doors  poureth  out  for  each  of  us  a  stiff  dram 
of  grogg  from  his  privy  chest  contrary  to  all  navy 
regulations,  and  so  left  Remington  with  him  to  re 
main  a  guest  on  board  while  we  return  by  water  on 
the  patrol  ship  of  the  fleet,  a  petard  boat  §  com 
manded  by  Lieutenant  Rogers,  as  gallant  and  gentle 
spoken  a  navy  officer  as  ever  I  care  to  know. 
^|  This  night  Carl  Decker  coming  into  our  bed 
chamber  did  devise  with  him  untill  late  how  to  go 
into  Cuba  unawares  for  to  pry  into  the  outcome 
of 

JRobley  D.  Evans,  U.S.N. 
§  Tbrpedo-boat  Foote. 
Tcol 


Pepys's  Gbost 

of  the  Armistice  newly  granted  to  his  rebels  by  the 
King  of  Spain,  and  were  resolved  in  the  end  for 
me  to  make  a  bold  try  for  it  on  the  morrow  with 
Mr.  Akers,  our  London  gazeteer  lately  banished 
from  all  Spanish  dominions,  and  so  to  bed,  strayning 
big  with  desire. || 

April  i^tb. —  Now  must  I  needs  take  up  again 
my  journall,  but  no  time  left  in  these  stirring  times 
to  hark  back  to  other  days.  The  country  clearly 
bent  upon  war,  and  here  all  in  a  flurry,  the  battle 
ships  putting  on  their  war  paint  and  trimming  for 
fight,  whilst  each  new  packet  boat  brings  more 
guests  to  our  Inne  all  mad  for  war.  This  morning 
I  to  the  wharf  with  Walter  Russell  *  and  Vince 
Cook  to  watch  a  little  blackamoor  boy  that  an- 
swereth  to  the  name  "  Smoke  "  at  his  anticks  in 
the  water,  dyving  and  swimming  like  unto  fish  to 
catch  pence  in  his  mouth,  a  subtile  trick  in  sooth, 
but  led  to  high  quarrell  betwixt  the  pickaninny 
boys,  and  so  away.  As  Schell  his  behest  on  board 
the  petard  boat  Porter,  with  her  commander  Lieu 
tenant  Fremont,  who  clapping  on  all  speed  won 
derful  indeed  to  behold  bears  us  with  him  to  the 
fleet  riding  at  Sandkey,  and  there  aboard  the  flag 
ship  to  pay  our  respects  to  Capt.  Sampson,  now 
made  Acting  Rear  Admiral  over  the  head  of  Com 
modore  Schley,  a  rank  preferment  what  will  surely 
breed  jealousy  in  the  Navy.  All  things  aboard 
the  flag  cruiser  wonderfully  well  ordered  and  ship 

shape, 

||  The  following  lapse  in  the  diary  was  doubtless 
caused  by  Mr.  Pepys's  reluctance  or  inability  to  continue 
his  daily  journal  while  exposed  to  possible  capture  in 
Cuba.  For  a  contemporary  record  of  some  of  his  ex 
periences  at  this  time  see  "A  Bloody  Armistice,"  pub 
lished  in  Leslie's  Weekly  early  in  May,  1898. —  The 
Editor. 

*  Artist. 

[60] 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

shape,  to  Schell  his  great  admiration  and  content 
ment,  but  I  liked  not  the  bearing  nor  manner  of 
the  Admiral  and  so  glad  to  turn  from  him  to  hold 
converse  with  Goode,f  the  only  gazetteer  licensed 
to  voyage  with  the  fleet  on  the  flagship.  Of  a 
sudden  the  lookout  maketh  an  outcry  and  we  turn 
ing  on  the  quarter  deck  behold  a  man  overboard 
from  a  packet  brig  under  full  said  beating  out  to 
westward  astern  of  us.  'Twas  a  prettie  sight  to 
watch  so  many  life  boats  with  men-o-war's  crewes 
racing  for  to  succor  the  drowning  sailor,  but  were 
balked  of  their  design  by  the  petard  boat,  what 
brought  us,  bearing  down  upon  the  swimmer  and 
so  drew  him  forth,  before  the  brig  could  make  shift 
to  heave  to.  When  they  fetched  him  before  the 
Admiral  'twas  but  a  slip  of  a  boy,  yet  we  lingered 
not  but  made  haste  to  go  down  the  side  into  the 
petard  boat,  her  commandant  offering  to  bear  us 
back  into  port.  Off  at  once  and  under  way  the 
second  lieutenant  comes  forward  and  tells  me  how 
the  cunning  rogue  sprang  overboard  within  hail  of 
the  squadron  designing  for  to  be  impressed  into  the 
navy  service,  thus  to  have  his  go  at  the  Spaniard, 
nor  would  they  deny  the  lad  his  brave  wish.  So 
to  the  navy  yard  with  great  speed  and  ashore  but 
not  untill  Schell  obtayns  the  commandant  his  word 
to  bring  him  along  this  night  what  time  the  petard 
boat  is  ordered  forth  to  patrol  the  coast,  but  I  have 
no  stomach  for  the  venture.  After  supper  Schell 
doth  borrow  my  great  rain  coat  agaynst  foul 
weather  overnight,  and  hies  him  away,  whilst  I 
taking  coach  with  Dan  Smith  and  Reuterdahl,t  the 
two  Danskers,  and  other  merry  souls  alight  at  La 
Brisa,  to  hear  of  the  musick  and  see  our  officers 

dance 

•j-  A.    P.    Goode,    war    correspondent    for   Associated 
Press. 

J  Well-known  illustrators  and  marine  artists. 
[61! 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

dance  with  their  ladies  and  prettie  Senoritas,  with 
no  thought  of  war.  There  beheld  I  the  comeliest 
Cuban  maids  that  ever  I  hoped  to  set  eyes  on,  one 
dancing  with  her  betrothed,  a  navy  ensign,  truly  a 
fair  sight  to  see,  both  dressed  in  fine  white  linen 
what  made  me  rue  mine  own  shabby  cloathes,  and 
so  loath  to  dance  myself  till  my  Mr.  Chamber- 
lin  §  finding  me  did  utter  such  incontinent  praises 
of  these  morenas  their  beauty,  that  I  must  needs 
request  the  favor  of  a  dance  with  the  prettie  wife 
of  Sylvester  Scovel  ||  come  to  the  merry  making 
with  the  Commandant  of  the  Fort,  his  lady.*  'Je 
faisais  des  yeux  jolis  avec  les  dames,  when  behold,  in 
walketh  Master  Schell,  prinked  in  my  Lord's  day 
doublet  and  breeches,  as  silly  a  misfit  to  his  body 
as  ever  be,  and  draweth  me  away  from  where  I 
sate,  to  mine  everlasting  sorrow  to  tell  me  how  he 
striving  to  gain  his  ship  in  the  dark  night  did  step 
clear  off  the  edge  of  the  wharf  into  the  sea,  and  so 
was  nigh  drowned  in  my  rain  coat  had  not  our 
friend  Lieut.  Rogers  heard  his  voice  from  the 
cabin  of  his  ship  lying  amid  stream  and  despatched 
a  boat  with  himself  in  it  and  thereby  saved  his  life 
in  the  nick  o'  time.  It  did  vex  me  to  come  away 
from  so  many  comely  women  but  Schell  his  dan- 
gersome  mishap  and  failure  thus  to  carry  out  his 
design  did  prove  so  sympathetick  a  tale  that  left 
me  no  heart  to  tarry  longer,  so  out  of  the  dance 
hall  and  straight  home  to  our  inne,  where  lay  his 
wet  cloathes  strewn  in  a  heap  like  fishermen's  nets 
fresh  from  the  sea. 

April  16. —  A  hot  day  and  hotter  on  the  water 

yet 

§  Joseph  E.  Chamberlin,  editor  of  Touth* s  Companion 
and  correspondent  for  Boston  Transcript. 

||  War  correspondent  for  New  York  World. 

*  Lieutenant  McKinstrey,  in  charge  of  fortifications  at 
Key  West. 

[62! 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

yet  Schell  intent  to  find  a  skuller  to  row  us  out  to 
the  petard  boat  to  return  thanks  to  the  navy  offi 
cers  what  saved  him  last  night  and  so  out  and  to 
the  Foote  f  and  broke  bread  with  them  in  the 
cabin,  a  jolly  feast  it  was  but  as  tiny  a  little  cabin 
as  ever  four  men  were  in.  Back  betimes  the 
boatswain  landing  us  on  the  turtle  dock  and  had 
much  ado  to  get  out  of  the  place  what  with  high 
fences  and  watermains  the  upshot  whereof  was 
that  Schell  his  hand  was  nigh  cleft  open  from  a 
broken  glass,  a  horrid  ugly  cut  to  see,  but  bore  it 
bravely  as  he  does  all  ills  and  I  like  him  the  better 
for  it.  This  night  a  troop  ship  brings  the  blacka 
moor  soldiers,  the  last  of  the  line  \  albeit  the  first 
to  push  so  far  to  the  front,  but  only  two  com 
panies  of  them  in  all,  big  stout  fellows  fit  enough 
to  fight,  led  by  their  officers,  all  white  men.  Pick 
ing  my  way  through  the  troop  ship  betwixt  the 
horses  their  stalls  and  tired  soldiers  fast  asleep 
under  their  hoofs,  I  come  across  George  Wharton 
Edwards  §  his  brother,  an  officer  in  the  service, 
arid  so  to  our  Inne  into  the  tap  room,  there  to 
drink  a  toast  to  his  health  and  his  brother  officers, 
a  brave  crew,  meseemeth  fair  of  speech  and 
courtly  mannered  for  all  their  hardships  and  rude 
service.  So  parted  good  friends,  and  to  my  bed 
chamber  at  early  matins  to  be  chidden  for  a 
roysterer  by  Master  Schell  aroused  and  wide  awake 
from  our  songs  in  the  tap  room. 

Lord's  Day. —  This  morning  lay  long  in  bed 
with  more  peevish  words  between  Schell  and  I, 
which  I  lay  to  his  sore  hand,  poor  wretch,  so  he 
flings  out  to  church  and  I  at  loss  how  to  pass  the 
forenoon.  To  Walter  Russell  his  lodgement, 

above 

~\  Torpedo-boat  Footey  commander  Lieutenant  Rogers, 
j  Twenty-fifth  Infantry,  U.S.A.  (colored). 
§  New  York  artist. 

[63] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

above  our  bed  chamber,  and  was  highly  edified  by 
his  paynting  of  the  soldiers  their  entry  last  night,|| 
though  he  professeth  it  to  be  but  an  esquisse. 
Thence  to  one  lodgement  after  another  to  watch 
each  painter  at  his  work,  Reuterdahl  doing  a  ship, 
Dan  Smith  some  steers  hoisted  on  high  by  a  der 
rick,  and  Schmettgen  *  deep  in  a  study  of  the 
blackamoor  troopers  asleep  in  the  hold  of  the  ship, 
even  as  I  surprized  them  yestereen.  Coming  in 
upon  them  in  this  fashion  I  found  each  divested 
of  his  clothes  and  sweating  overmuch  from  the 
hot  sun,  so  bade  all  to  come  swim  together  off  the 
Prado  after  sundown,  whereon  Schell  hearing  of  it 
must  needs  come  too  and  so  all  into  the  water 
with  rag,  tag  and  bobtail,  untill  Master  Russell 
prating  of  sharks  did  spoil  our  frolick.  Home  to 
a  good  dinner,  which  done,  we  all  to  the  Roman 
minster  to  hear  preached  a  homily  by  father  Chid- 
wick,  erstwhile  navy  chaplin  on  the  Maine,  that 
lies  sunken  at  La  Habana,  but  now  father  confessor 
on  board  Capt.  Sampson  his  flagship.  A  poor 
sermon  methought  and  so  home  eager  to  get  some 
sleep. 

April  /<?.— Worked  all  day. 

April  19. —  Writing  of  my  report  for  the  Ga 
zette.  They  say  war  is  certain  now  that  Congress 
hath  stuck  its  finger  into  the  pie.f 

April 20th. — Worked  hard  till  night  fall.  Walked 
abroad  after  supper  and  came  upon  a  prettie  Cuban 
damsel,  lying  sick  in  the  way  with  none  to  aid  her, 
so 

1 1  A  reproduction  of  this  painting  in  black  and  white 
was  afterwards  used  for  Mr.  Pepys's  monograph  on 
4  *  The  Negro  as  a  Soldier, ' '  published  shortly  after  the 
Spanish-American  War  in  1 898. 

*  Illustrator  for  Chicago  Record. 

\  Congressional  resolution  of  April  19,  1898,  enjoin 
ing  the  President  to  request  Spain's  evacuation  of  Cuba. 


P  e  p  y  s's  Ghost 

so  was  fain  to  fetch  a  Spanish  spoken  surgeon  who 
gives  her  some  physick  and  thereon  commends  her 
to  my  care,  as  I  were  her  lover.  A  fine  pickle 
this  had  her  Aunt  not  come  to  the  spot  and  borne 
her  away  but  must  have  a  sharp  look  at  me  ere  she 
goes,  so  am  clearly  committed  to  it,  God  forgive 
me.  Home  to  the  Inne  and  into  the  tap  room, 
and  there  fell  in  with  Dick  Davis  and  Remington 
but  loath  to  speak  of  what  befell  me  lest  they  make 
a  jeast  of  it.  In  the  midst  of  our  discourse  comes 
a  noise  of  shots  from  without  and  sound  of  scuffle, 
so  they  up  and  out  and  I  after  them  and  found  it 
to  be  a  murderous  brawl  betwixt  the  town  con 
stable  and  a  soldier  blackamoor,  whom  he  appre 
hends  with  a  dag  in  his  hand  others  stryving  to 
embroil  them  the  further,  and  so  the  strife  grew 
madder  still  till  all  the  town  in  an  uproar  the  sol 
diers  marching  to  the  gaol  to  set  free  their  com 
rades  and  the  burghers  arming  agaynst  the  moors 
for  to  avenge  so  high  handed  a  breach  of  their 
civick  law.  Late  at  night,  the  turmoil  ending  for 
the  nonce,  I  home  to  the  Inne  and  there  to  mine 
own  great  surprize  beheld  Mr.  Tholans  J  intent  on 
loading  a  blunderbuss  for  bloody  work  on  the 
morrow,  which  God  forbid. 

April  2 1 st. —  Up  late  and  found  all  matters  quiet. 
Colonel  Daggett  §  he  tells  me,  his  man  shall  be 
brought  to  justice  and  all  end  well.  Wrote  hard 
all  day.  To  night  to  the  El  Teatro  San  Carlos, 
with  our  navy  friends,  and  all  going  well  on  the 
stage,  a  cachucha  dance  just  beginning  when 
news  comes  that  the  King  of  Spain  hath  driven 
our  Embassadour  from  his  dominions  and  war  is 
declared.  The  navy  men  up  at  that,  and  we  along 
with  them,  what  was  a  signal  for  all  sailor  men  to 
leave 

J  Then  city  editor  of  New  York  Press. 

§  Commanding  officer,  of  the  Twenty-fifth  Infantry. 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

leave  the  playhouse,  and  so  pell  mell  into  a  haclcney 
coach  bidding  the  driver  lose  no  time  to  the  wharf, 
where  each  ship  of  the  squadron  be  signalling  to 
one  another  and  boats  ready  on  all  sides  to  take  the 
laggards  to  their  ships.  No  time  then  to  say  more 
than  a  curt  good  bye  and  good  luck  in  the  bargain 
and  so  parted,  they  to  take  their  place  in  the 
squadron  and  we  to  the  Inne  to  pack  our  duds  and 
away  to  the  despatch  boat  amid  streams.  At  mid 
night  hoisted  our  anchor  and  under  way  after  the 
fleet,  gathering  at  Sand  Key.  Fell  asleep  on 
quarter  deck  and  thus  the  night  passed. 

Friday,  April  22d. —  Woke  at  dawn  it  growing 
chillsome  on  the  after  deck,  and  found  our  ship 
riding  at  anchor.  Under  way  at  five  bells  of  the 
second  watch  and  overtook  the  fleet  soon  after 
sailing  in  double  columns  the  course  set  due  for 
Habana.  Even  as  we  closed  with  the  squadron 
one  ship  hove  about  and  made  for  home  with  a 
Spanish  packet  boat  for  convoy,  the  Bonaventura 
so  they  say,  captured  over  night,  our  first  prize  in 
this  war.  Some  said  'twas  a  prize  and  other  gain 
said  them,  but  the  latter  overbearing  us  we  lay 
not  to,  but  kept  our  course  after  the  squadron,  lest 
they  cannonade  the  City  of  La  Habana  and  we  be 
not  bye.  Stood  all  day  for  Cuba  and  was  marvel 
lous  to  behold  the  prettie  flying  fish  leaping  from 
the  blue  water  at  our  ship's  side,  but  I  begin  to 
feel  the  alteration  in  the  heat  of  the  climate,  being 
now  well  out  in  the  Caribbean  Sea,  nor  had  en 
dured  the  sun  so  well  but  for  a  tarpaulin  spread 
over  the  poop  by  our  sailormen.  Near  sun  down 
the  flagship  of  a  sudden  claps  on  all  speed  for  a 
chase  after  a  big  Spaniard,  and  bringing  him  too 
with  a  couple  of  shots  from  her  forward  gun, 
drives  him  captive  into  the  fleet,  a  noble  prize  in 
deed,  San  Pedro  by  name.  Whilst  a  boarding 

party 
[66] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

party  goes  over  his  side  for  to  search  into  his 
papers  and  secure  the  prize,  another  brave  ship 
looms  up  in  the  offing,  and  a  shout  goes  up  from 
the  jackies  on  the  fleet  for  they  know  her  to  be 
a  man-of-war,  yet  must  restrayn  their  greed  for 
fight  whilst  the  admiral  goes  out  single  handed  to 
engage  the  fellow.  Such  speed  in  a  ship  did  I 
never  see,  no  not  in  all  my  life  and  did  my  hearte 
good  to  see  the  flagship  make  so  prettie  a  run  for 
first  blood.  So  went  below  and  summoned  forth 
Schell  from  the  cabin  where  he  lay  prone  in  the 
throes  of  sea  sickness,  lest  he  miss  this  chance  to 
draw  so  noble  a  fight,  man  to  man,  and  he  coming 
up  throws  him  down  on  the  bridge  with  horrible 
groans,  yet  just  in  time  to  draw  a  fair  image  of  the 
two  ships  belching  forth  their  broad  sides  of  fire 
and  flame.  We  drawing  nigher  could  hear  the 
noise  of  their  cannonade  over  the  water;  and 
strayned  our  eyes  to  see  which  would  over  bear 
the  other,  when  Schell  of  a  sudden  raises  him  up 
from  where  he  lay  on  his  belly  and  cried  angrily 
Ye  fools  see  you  not  that  this  is  no  Spaniard  but  shewetb 
the  standard  of  the  King  of  Savoy  and  all  this  combat 
is  but  their  salutation  to  one  another  according  to  the 
courtesies  of  the  sea  and  so  withdrew  highly  vexatious 
into  the  cabin.  There  he  lay  sick  all  night,  our 
cockle  shell  of  a  ship  tumbling  us  about  most  hor 
ribly,  but  I  could  nowise  bear  the  noisome  stench 
in  the  cabin  and  so  to  the  poop  once  more  and 
there  slept  over  night  in  my  clothes,  glad  in  my 
heart  that  it  be  no  worse. 

April  2jd. —  This  morning  lay  off"  the  coast  of 
Cuba,  nigh  enough  to  the  harbour  of  La  Habana 
to  see  the  breakers  dash  their  foam  clear  up  to  the 
walls  of  Castel  Morro  and  the  beacon  tower,  a 
terrible  sight  to  see,  and  beyond  the  yellow  houses 
of  the  town,  but  durst  not  venture  within  gun  shot 

of 
[67] 


P  e py  s's  Ghost 

of  the  batteries,  since  'tis  contrary  to  orders.  After 
dinner  the  whole  fleet  fell  to  exercise  the  small 
and  great  guns,  especiall  the  latter,  as  if  really  in 
fight,  pointing  the  long  guns  hither  and  thither  and 
showing  the  manner  of  loading,  highly  divertising 
but  withal  confusing  and  come  to  an  end  only  by 
our  cruiser  Cinncinnati  chasing  a  poor  schooner, 
and  made  a  prize  of  her.  Soon  thereafter  our  little 
petard  boat  Porter  chases  after  another  prize  and 
all  but  drives  her  on  the  beach  but  in  the  end 
brings  her  back  in  tow,  she  likewise  a  schooner, 
La  Matilda  by  name.  'Tis  a  sorry  sport  to  my 
mind  to  see  such  poor  craft  of  fishing  smacks  and 
coast  wise  packet  boats  made  prizes,  their  captains, 
poor  wretches,  not  yet  aware  that  war  be  declared, 
nor  able  either  to  show  fight  overmatched  as  they 
be  in  speed  and  mostly  without  armament  of  their 
own.  One  Spanish  master  I  saw  kneeling  down 
to  pray  as  he  was  made  prisoner  by  our  boarding 
party  swarming  over  the  side  of  his  ship,  and  after 
ward  told  them  how  he  had  been  out  to  sea,  stand 
ing  from  Africa  these  three  months  before  ever 
there  was  thought  of  war,  but  it  avayled  him  not 
against  the  loss  of  his  bonnie  ship  and  all  that  was 
his  own.  So  home  to  Key  West,  sleeping  on  the 
after  deck,  as  is  my  wont. 

April  24.. —  Up  betimes  beating  into  the  port 
of  Key  West  and  found  the  harbour  filled  full 
of  Spanish  prize  craft,  a  strange  edifying  sight.  To 
the  Inne  where  were  lodged  in  our  same  bed 
chamber  as  before  to  my  contentment.  All  day 
long  at  work  on  my  great  report  of  how  this  War 
came  to  be  begun,  nor  did  I  quit  till  bed  time  very 
late  of  the  night. 

April  2$th. —  Worked  hard  all  day. 

April  26tb. —  A  hot  day  but  clear  withal.  This 
morning  in  comes  Mr.  Cassard,  the  navy  parson  on 

the 

[68] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

the  Indiana  what  promised  to  make  me  sun  pictures 
of  all  he  saw,  and  bursting  into  our  chamber  tells 
me  how  he  did  hap  to  be  on  board  the  small  beacon 
light  craft  Mangrove  that  hath  now  made  a  prize 
of  the  brave  packet  cruiser  Panama,  the  Spaniard 
carrying  four  guns  against  but  one  small  pistolet 
on  the  Mangrove  and  that  owned  by  the  parson, 
truly  a  bold  exploit.  What  did  please  the  parson 
most  is  how  he  was  to  get  his  share  of  untold 
pieces-of-eight  for  prize  money,  and  would  have  it 
that  his  be  a  double  claim,  since  he  but  happened 
on  the  Mangrove  yet  with  his  dag  bore  a  part  in 
the  onslaught,  whilst  did  belong  of  right  to  the 
Indiana,  what  came  within  hail  ere  the  Panama 
was  boarded  and  thereby  gets  half  the  booty.  So 
we  two  must  needs  dine  with  him,  and  made  merry 
over  a  bottell  or  two  of  truly  noble  Burgundy  wine 
and  after  dinner  the  parson  taketh  me  by  coach  to 
the  wharf  feigning  mere  pleasaunce  but  in  truth 
bent  on  more  prizes,  and  so  left  him  cocking  his 
eye  through  a  great  spy  glass,  the  greediest  pirate 
that  ever  I  saw. 

^|  Was  hard  put  to  it  to  finish  my  report  and  not 
slight  this  last  brave  exploit  of  our  Navy  as  told 
me  by  the  parson,  and  so  aboard  the  Anita,  late  of 
the  evening,  and  soon  weighed  anchor  for  our 
second  cruise,  with 'what  shift  of  sleep  there  was 
for  me  in  a  chair  on  the  poop. 

April  2  Jib. —  Up  and  found  clear  weather,  but 
lasted  not  long,  a  loud  Norwester  wind  making  the 
sea  to  run  highly  discomfortable.  By  noon  time 
saw  our  good  ship  Newport  chase  for  a  prize  but 
lost  her  into  the  harbour  of  La  Habana.  Sailed 
for  the  port  of  Matanzas,  a  score  of  leagues  away, 
and  had  all  but  made  it,  when  lo  the  boatswain  ears 
do  tingle  with  the  boom  of  gunnery  and  so  clapped 
on  all  speed  and  soon  behekL^fca-Aytthip  with  a 
/^^T£r^\  small 
[^UNIVERSITY  ) 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

small  part  of  the  fleet  cannonade  the  castle  at  the 
harbour  nor  ceased  their  shooting  till  no  more 
shots  came  from  the  discomfited  Spaniards  what 
stood  by  the  guns  of  San  Cristino,||  and  thus  an 
end  to  the  first  drawn  fight  of  the  war,  and  passing 
strange  methought  to  have  my  first  battaille  waged 
in  the  very  place  where  I  lay  but  a  fortnight  since. 
^f  But  we  greedy  for  more  news,  not  having  beheld 
how  the  encounter  opened,  and  so  pursued  the  flag 
ship  down  the  Cuban  coast,  untill  the  waves  fall 
ing  somewhat  we  drew  nigh  meaning  to  board  her, 
yet  were  dissuaded  by  the  Admiral  his  request  to 
stand  by  his  small  convoy  Tecumseb  *  whom  he  did 
report  as  sinking,  and  so  turned  about  and  held 
close  to  her  all  night  untill  we  saw  her  into  port, 
she  out  sailing  us  at  the  very  end,  and  thus  learned 
it  was  but  a  scurvy  trick  lest  we  report  the  en 
counter  at  home  in  advance  of  the  Admiral  his 
pets,  what  he  had  already  despatched  for  port. 
To  me  it  mattered  little,  meaning  no  loss  of  news 
to  me,  but  to  the  other  gazeteers  aboard  with  us 
'twas  a  sad  blow  and  one  they  must  rue  for  many 
a  day. 

April  28. —  Up  betimes  to  work  hard  all  day, 
and  so  late  to  sleep  on  board  La  Anita. 

April  2pth. —  A  clear  and  cool  day  upon  the 
water.  Fell  in  with  the  flagship  f  at  eight  bells 
of  the  third  watch,  and  became  her  convoy  to 
gether  with  the  Indiana^.  Detroit^  Mangrove,** 

Dewey, 

||  Old  fort  commanding  the  harbor  of  Matanzas. 

*  Naval  supply  tug. 

f  Armored  cruiser  New  York. 

j  Battleship. 

§  Cruiser. 

**  Converted  light-house  tender. 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

Dewey,*  Summersault  Smithy ',f  Can-bave-a-haul,\ 
and  Triton. §  So  sailed  past  Morro  Castle,  a 
motley  crew,  beyond  Mariel  and  off  Port  Cabanas, 
when  lo  some  bloody  cut  throats  on  shore  must 
needs  fire  into  us  with  their  blunderbusses,  a  mad 
senseless  adventure  and  cost  them  dearly,  our 
cruisers  heaving  to  and  firing  their  guns  each 
eleven  times,  what  put  a  stop  to  their  gunnery  on 
the  other  side,  yet  we  tarried  not  to  count  the 
dead,  but  made  for  port,  the  other  gazeteers  bark 
ing  upon  our  heels,  and  so  sailed  a  close  race  for 
port,  a  wicked  waste  of  coles  and  no  sense  in  it, 
meseemed,  but  made  as  prettie  a  race  as  any  I 
have  sailed  in,  all  three  clearing  the  bar  together, 
despite  the  signals  of  ye  port  warden  to  beware  of 
gunpowder  casks  hid  away  in  the  harbour  for 
welcome  to  the  Spaniard. 

April  joth. —  Kept  my  room  hard  at  work  all 
day.  Sailed  out  of  port  late  by  night,  contrary  to 
the  port  warden  his  orders. 

First  day  of  May. —  Cruising  with  fleet  all  day, 
the  weather  worser  than  ever  before. 

May  2d. —  On  cruise. 

May  jd. —  Cruised  untill  high  noon.  Came 
into  port  near  sun  down  and  found  fleet  assembled 
off  Sandkey,  others  taking  on  coles  in  the  harbour. 
^f  So  warped  into  wharf,  to  await  our  turn  for  coles 
and  other  succor,  the  Captain  mighty  anxious  lest 
we  be  undone,  but  prevayled  after  all  and  so  back 
to  ye  fleet  with  late  mail  for  the  flagship  and  one 
of  her  cruisers.  A  fine  moonlight  night,  all  shippes 
^ with 

*  Press  despatch  boat  chartered  by  the  New  York 
Herald. 

•\  Somers  N.  Smith,  tug-boat  chartered  by  New  York 
Herald. 

J  Kanapaba,  steam  yacht  chartered  by  New  York  Sun. 

§  Tug-boat  chartered  by  New  York   World. 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

with  anchors  underfoot  ready  to  sail,  and  link  sig 
nals  playing  from  one  t'other  and  so  lay  to  untill 
midnight.  'Tis  some  big  undertaking  plainly  that 
all  is  agog  for,  for  late  of  the  night,  when  a  petard 
boat  cometh  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  harbour  bear 
ing  the  latest  dispatch  for  the  Admiral  from  the 
Navy  Office,  each  man-o'-war  gets  under  way  and 
thus  sail  away  into  the  night,  our  boat  dogging 
close  after  the  Indiana,  and  so  fell  to  sleep  on  the 
poop  bench  as  is  my  wont. 

May  ftb. —  A  clear  day  and  hot,  albeit  a  blithe 
wind  blew  over  our  quarter.  Stood  by  the  Indiana 
untill  off  La  Habana  where  cruised  at  random  over 
a  smooth  sea  and  wondrous  blue,  yellow  gulf  weed 
floating  hither  and  thither.  A  shark  shewing  his 
back  fin  off  our  starboard  side  Mr.  Quail  ||  essays 
to  shoot  him  but  fails,  and  so  passeth  the  fowling 
piece  on  to  our  Welsh  steward  who  puts  a  shot 
clean  through  the  fish  his  belly  and  so  flip  flapped 
in  the  water  mighty  fierce  till  the  steward  shoots 
him  once  more  and  then  lay  died  and  quiet.  Mr. 
Quail,  hot  for  his  prey,  orders  out  the  small  boat, 
but  the  sailor  man  did  so  bungle  the  thing  that  the 
boat  was  upsot  and  two  tarpaulins  spilled  out  of 
her  one  saving  of  himself  by  a  hawser  but  t'other 
likely  to  drown  or  be  swallowed  alive  by  sharks 
had  I  not  called  aloud  to  the  poor  fool  to  climb  into 
the  dinghy  and  so  clambered  on  the  keel  and  drew 
up  his  legs  to  be  safe  from  the  fishes  their  bites.  A 
most  unwelcome  mishap  to  our  captain  since  that 
it  befell  under  the  very  eyes  of  the  Admiral  and  so 
shamed  us  with  all  the  fleet.  At  noon  the  flag 
ship  sets  signals  to  speed  in  all  haste  to  Port  Car 
denas  and  did  so,  some  saying  how  the  Spaniard 
his  Armada  been  sighted,  yet  when  Cardenas  was 

reached 

[  |  Joseph  Quail,  war  correspondent  for  New  York 
Journal. 

[7*1 


Pepys's  Ghost 

reached  turned  out  no  more  than  other  fighting 
ships  of  the  line  be  come  to  meet  us.  So  came  to 
under  lee  of  the  squadron  and  so  to  sleep  on  the 
quarter  deck  in  the  wicker  couch  that  bore  poor 
Mistress  Thurston,  the  wife  of  the  parliament  man 
what  time  she  died  aboard  this  ship.* 

May  $tk. —  A  cool  morning,  our  ship  still  a-fol- 
lowing  the  fleet  Eastward  along  Cuba,  the  squad 
ron  sailing  in  this  order,  to  wit :  Flagship,  towing 
Terror,  towing  in  turn  the  little  Porter,  Iowa  tow 
ing  the  Amphitrite,  Detroit,  Montgomery,  Niagara, 
TVampatuck,  Indiana,  Anita,  Kanapaba  and  Daunt 
less.  Changed  course  southward  early  in  third 
watch.  OfF  Sandoro  Grande  f  Montgomery  went 
in  chase  after  a  Spanish  barkentine  and  soon 
brings  her  in  as  a  prize  yclept  San  Lorenzo,  and  so 
sent  her  homeward  under  a  prize  officer  and  crew. 
Not  long  thereafter  the  Indiana  hailing  us  would 
fain  have  us  take  on  board  a  government  spy  sent 
to  get  foot  into  Cuba  and  after  some  parley  to  and 
fro  consented  on  our  part.  Whilst  we  lie  by  the 
Montgomery  espieth  another  sail,  this  time  a  brig- 
antine  and  chasing  after  her  soon  brings  the  Span 
iard  to  with  her  guns  and  so  another  prize  is  made 
and  despatched  homeward,  a  sport  mefeared  but 
little  to  the  liking  of  those  that  must  needs  sail  them 
into  port.  The  spie,  coming  up  our  side  soon  re- 
vealeth  himself  as  Mr.  Whitney  a  gentleman  born 
and  bred,  with  a  captaincy  in  the  army  and  pur- 
porteth  to  be  on  his  way  to  join  one  of  our  embas 
sies  abroad,  but  in  truth  bent  upon  getting  some 
word  of  our  army  to  Gen'l  Gomez,  chief  of  the 
rebel  forces  in  the  Antilles.  So  ushered  into  the 

cabin 

*  Reference  to  the  death  of  Senator  Thurston' s  wife 
while  cruising  from  Cuba  to  Florida  aboard  Anita  earlier 
in  the  year. 

f  Sagua  Grande  ? 

r?vi 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

cabin  and  over  a  hearty  dram  there  Captain  Whitney 
he  maketh  a  mighty  civill  request  to  be  set  ashore 
by  us  on  the  East  coast  of  Cuba,  and  then  did  it 
appear  to  his  everlasting  confusion  and  consterna- 
cion  that  in  their  parley  they  did  mistake  our  cap 
tain  to  shout  to  them  how  we  would  land  at  Cape 
Maysi  in  Cuba,  we  having  said  in  truth  how  that 
we  must  get  coles  at  Cape  Hayti.  Capt.  Whit 
ney,  he  pulleth  a  wry  face,  but  no  avayl  since  our 
shipmaster  durst  not  risk  the  adventure.  So  to 
supper  and  after  supper  Mr.  Whitney  and  I  did  dis 
course  untill  late  into  morning  how  it  might  be  ar 
ranged  for  us  twain  to  go  into  Cuba  from  Cape 
Hayti,  if  I  would  but  contry  ve  to  procure  false  pass 
ports  for  either  man. 

May  6th. —  Cruising  all  day  in  wake  of  fleet. 

May  jth. —  A  hot  day,  with  no  sport  but  from 
the  anticks  of  the  sailors  their  bobtail  goat  and 
puppy,  two  silly  beasts  that  play  to  be  for  ever 
fighting  one  the  other.  Sighted  Tortuga  Island, 
where  the  bucaneers  of  these  parts  were  wont  to 
hold  their  bloody  carousals.  'Tis  plain  to  all  now 
that  the  Admiral  is  bent  on  locking  horns  with  the 
Spaniard  wherever  he  may  find  him. 

May  8th. —  Aroused  at  early  matins,  we  coming 
into  a  harbour  most  daintie  and  loveable  to  be 
hold,  and  was  bidden  to  converse  with  the  pilot  in 
the  French  tongue,  none  other  knowing  how  to 
speak  it.  A  highly  ludicrous  pilot  man  I  found 
him,  black  as  the  devil  and  half  naked,  but  talked 
the  French  lingo  mighty  glibb  like  a  master  of  cer 
emonies  or  dance  teacher  and  so  asked  him  where 
we  might  buy  coles  and  stores  whereat  he  promis- 
eth  to  shew  me  ashore,  and  so  off  with  him  in 
his  long  boat,  my  heart  glad  within  me  to  put  foot 
on  land  again.  A  more  divertising  country  have 
I  not  seen,  no  never,  the  green  hills  even  as  Cris- 

topherus 

[74] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

topherus  Columbus  found  them  here,  and  the  peo 
ple  little  better  than  sauvages,  living  in  motley  rags 
and  nakedness,  yet  calling  themselves  Count  of 
Lemonade,  Duke  of  Marmalade  and  other  noble 
titles  fit  to  make  a  dog  laugh.  So  tarried  all  day, 
nigh  drunken  with  the  pleasaunce  of  so  much  rare 
sport,  but  made  a  sorry  business  of  mine  errand  to 
get  us  false  passports  for  Mr.  Whitney  and  me  to 
pass  into  Cuba,  and  so  must  even  desist  for  the 
present,  though  as  he  truly  saith,  God  only  knows 
whither  we  shall  fetch  up  next  time. 

May  pth. —  At  day  break  put  out  to  sea,  I  hav 
ing  been  up  all  night  what  with  climbing  up  to 
the  signal  tower  to  spy  out  our  squadron  in  the 
offing  and  thence  a  stroll  along  the  green  beach 
where  Admiral  Columbus  did  lose  his  best  cara- 
velle  of  a  Christmaseen  and  there  saw  pointed  out 
to  me  an  ancient  anchor  in  the  sand  said  to  be 
that  of  the  Santa  Maria  and  so  highly  content  but 
wished  on  parting  I  might  have  abided  a  full  fort 
night  in  so  quaint  a  place.  Joined  the  fleet  thirty 
miles  out  to  sea  and  there  Admiral  Sampson  did 
bid  sundry  of  us  gazeteers  on  board  the  flagship  to 
rate  us  soundly  for  what  he  termed  an  betrayal  of 
his  ships  their  whereabouts  when  of  a  sudden  up 
comes  a  water  spout  not  half  a  league  away,  and 
approacheth  mighty  swift,  so  in  the  ships  their 
consternacion  a  short  end  put  to  the  dispute,  yet 
the  spout  wave  burst  asunder  ere  she  was  brought 
to  fall  from  the  ships  their  guns.  Set  our  course  to 
westward  with  all  the  squadron  untill  well  out  of 
sight  of  land  and  then  Eastward,  a  clever  ruse 
designed  to  deceave  the  Spanish  spies  on  watch 
for  us  ashore.  So  to  bed  in  the  foul  cabin  below, 
a  wild  rain  and  storm  spoiling  the  night  for  me  on 
deck. 

May  loth. —  A  dull  day  we  still  a-cruising  east 
ward 


Pepys's  Ghost 

ward  with  the  fleet,  and  duller  yet  but  for  Dan 
Smith  J  his  merry  talk  and  waggery. 

May  nth. —  tip  and  see  we  are  clean  out  of 
sight  of  the  Admiral  and  his  squadron  but  know 
how  to  fall  in  with  their  course.  Spoke  and  ran 
alongside  Spanish  bark  Carlos  F.  Rose  of  Barce 
lona,  with  no  news  of  the  war,  her  captain  all  in 
the  dark  that  War  hath  been  declared  betwixt  his 
country  and  ours,  and  so  might  have  taken  him 
prisoner  were  privateering  not  lately  fallen  in  so 
ill  repute.  Espied  squadron  after  night  fall  and 
made  haste  to  fall  in  with  them  again. 

May  I2tb. —  This  morning  the  fleet  lying  ofF 
San  Juan  de  Puerto  Rico,  did  cannonade  that  Port, 
from  daybreak  untill  after  breakfast,  the  Spaniards 
handling  their  guns  mighty  manfully,  with  no 
issue  on  either  side,  they  shooting  the  last  shots, 
but  none  struck  on  our  ships,  but  such  noise  of 
gunnery,  smoke  and  manoeuvring  of  vessels  did 
I  never  behold,  nor  understood  much  of  it,  but 
Mr.  Whitney  setting  forth  the  problem  to  me  in  a 
diagram,  and  Captain  Converse  of  the  Montgom 
ery  giving  me  a  private  explication  of  it  all,  I  did 
write  a  very  full  report  of  it,  to  be  printed  with 
Frank  Schell  his  painted  portrayal  of  the  sea  battle 
and  did  despatch  both  from  the  port  of  Saint 
Thomas  in  the  Danish  West  Indies  where  we  did 
come  to  anchor  that  same  day  together  with  the 
Montgomery,  Saint  Paul,  Tale,  Kanapaho  and  Daunt 
less,  a  marvel  indeed  to  the  sleepy  towns  folk  not 
accustomed  to  see  so  many  great  ships  gathered 
all  at  once  in  their  midget  harbour. 

May  ijth. —  Forth  from  the  harbour  again  speak 
ing  the  cruiser  Tale  on  our  way  out.  Cruised  up 
and  down  the  coast  of  Puerto  Rico  within  gunshot 
of  the  castle  meaning  to  discern  clearly  what 

damage 

J  Marine  artist  for  New  York  Journal. 

r?6i 


Pepys's  Ghost 

damage  hath  been  done,  and  so  all  day,  bespeak 
ing  of  our  ships  the  St.  Louis,  Dauntless,  and  Kan- 
abapa,  in  full  cry  after  the  Admiral  what  hath 
turned  about  Westward  on  despatches  how  the 
Spanish  Armada  hath  given  him  the  slip  at  Mar 
tinique  and  is  now  head  on  for  Cuba.  At  sun 
down,  of  a  sudden  the  look-out  espieth  a  Spanish 
man-of-war  pouncing  down  upon  us  from  the  har 
bour  of  San  Juan,  and  clapped  on  all  speed  with 
great  ado  since  we  are  clearly  overmatched  but 
the  Spaniard  pursuing  giveth  us  a  close  chase, 
with  gun  shots  fired  ever  and  anon  over  our  star 
board  quarter,  and  all  much  discomfited  thereby 
with  great  distress  and  fear  that  all  is  lost,  every 
man  called  upon  to  do  his  part  with  the  crew,  and 
thus  toiled  all  night  nor  never  lett  up  untill  day 
break  finds  us  ofF  Saint  Thomas  with  the  Spanish 
cruiser  lost  in  the  wake,  but  our  ship  worse 
strayned  than  she  is  able  to  bear,  and  so  came 
into  port  badly  affrighted. 

May  i^th. —  Hard  at  work  over  my  report  of 
our  misbegotten  venture  of  yesternight. 

May  i6th. —  The  vitascope  man,  him  that  we 
called  Grampus,  because  of  his  spouting  like  a 
whale,  left  our  company  this  day  to  sail  for  home 
ward,  with  many  bottelles  of  goodly  spirits  to 
cheer  him  on  the  way  and  told  me  privily  how 
'twas  all  by  reason  of  this  our  idle  delay  in  a 
strange  port  away  from  all  the  fighting. 

May  ijtb. — This  morning  was  aroused  by  Dan 
Smith  shewing  me  a  tattered  piece  of  a  British 
gazette  with  a  report  of  Admiral  Dewey  his  brave 
defeat  of  the  Spanish  Admiral  in  the  China  seas,  a 
better  news  have  I  never  heard,  and  made  my 
heart  big  to  think  how  so  great  a  victory  could  be 
achieved  so  lightly  by  our  officers  and  tarpaulins, 
to  the  everlasting  glory  and  honour  of  our  flag,  for 
which  God  be  praised.  They 

[77] 


P  epy  sys  G  bo  s  t 

^[They  do  tell  me  presently  how  that  the  only 
gazeteers  on  our  side  in  that  far  away  sea  fight 
were  Mr.  Stickney,  whom  methinks  I  knew,  and 
Mr.  McCutcheon,  not  a  writer  at  all  but  comick 
draughtsman,  yet  wrote  a  better  report  than  t'other. 
The  greater  credit  to  him,  and  made  my  heart  ake 
to  think  how  we  lye  idle  here  and  the  war  sweep- 
eth  us  bye  left  helpless.  So  to  Mr.  Quail,  and 
did  insist,  that  he  give  me  a  warrant  to  sail  for 
Santiago  in  the  Baracoa,§  one  of  Mr.  Hearst  his 
ships,  but  he  firmly  set  against  it,  and  lays  down 
an  order  that  I  must  abide  with  him,  and  so  one 
word  giving  another  waxed  very  wroth  untill  he 
did  order  me  from  his  ship  and  I  taking  him  at  his 
behest  did  jump  over  board,  and  was  drawn  ashore 
by  a  blackamoor  in  a  bum  boat,  very  wet  but  re 
solved  to  make  an  end  and  strike  off  on  my  own 
part,  a  free  man.  To  Mr.  Whitney  his  lodging 
in  Dr.  Taylor's  ||  house  on  the  hill,  and  lay  there 
with  him  all  night  deep  in  talk  on  a  project  how 
to  enter  Puerto  Rico  as  secret  agents  for  the  War 
Office  and  our  Government. 

May  iptb. —  Up  betimes,  Mr.  Whitney  com- 
playning  sorely  of  tropical  Spiders  and  went  about 
for  to  procure  a  passport  into  Puerto  Rico,  and 
so  to  the  German  Emperour  his  envoy  here  and 
he  sending  me  to  the  Governour  of  the  Island  did 
obtain  from  him  a  passport  as  a  Switzer  but  must 
have  it  countersigned  by  the  Spanish  King  his 
envoy  and  so  after  payment  of  all  just  dues  to  the 
envoy  his  house  with  the  standard  of  Castille 

perched 

§  Norwegian  tramp  steamer  chartered  by  the  New 
York  Journal  to  sail  from  St.  Thomas  to  Santiago,  but 
failed  of  her  mission,  her  captain  and  crew  repudiating 
the  charter  in  mid-ocean. 

1 1  English  physician  resident  in  St.  Thomas,  and  his 
torian  of  the  Danish  West  Indies. 

[78] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

perched  high  above  it,  and  do  persuade  him  by  use 
of  French  lingo  to  affix  his  seal  and  exequatur 
thereto  but  cost  me  further  stipends  and  money, 
yea  more  than  before.  While  thus  I  tarried  there 
comes  a  noise  of  guns,  as  for  a  salute  and  we 
hastening  to  the  window  do  behold  one  of  our 
men-o'-war  sail  proudly  into  the  harbour  with 
colors  flying  and  boom  of  guns.  Espying  her 
Senor  Velasques  *  giveth  a  black  scowl,  and  turn 
ing  from  the  window  tells  me  in  French  how  she 
is  the  Oregon,  fled  away  into  this  port  from  the 
vengeance  of  Spain,  but  I  knowing  her  to  be  the 
Minneapolis  did  laugh  privily  to  myself,  into  my 
sleeve,  yet  trow  our  good  ship  Oregon  hath  in 
deed  given  the  Spaniards  the  slip. 

May  22d. —  This  night  Mr.  Whitney  he  did 
stow  away  on  the  collier  Ardenrose,  bound  for  the 
Port  of  Ponce,  and  did  see  him  ofF  and  helped  him 
aboard  the  ship  with  promises  to  meet  in  Puerto 
Rico,  if  all  go  well.  So  went  aboard  Anita,  the 
first  time,  since  mine  overthrow  with  Mr.  Quail, 
and  arousing  Schell  from  his  sickbed  did  bid  fare 
well  to  him  and  a  good  honest  friend  he  is  and 
maketh  mine  heart  sick,  to  leave  him.  So  away 
and  to  my  boatman  to  prepare  all  for  this  mine 
own  try  for  Puerto  Rico  and  therefore  must  needs 
end  my  journall  here.  And  so  betake  myself  to 
that  course,  which  is  almost  as  much  as  to  bid 
God  speed  to  myself,  for  which  and  all  discomforts 
that  may  await  me,  good  fortune  attend  me.f 

'June 

*  Spanish  consul  in  Danish  West  Indies. 

•f  Necessarily  so  tell-tale  a  journal  of  daily  events  had  to 
be  discontinued  in  view  of  the  author's  delicate  mission. 
Happily,  another  biographical  narrative,  covering  the 
period  of  the  diarist's  adventures  in  Puerto  Rico,  has 
been  kept  extant  in  an  article  published  in  the  Century 
Magazine  for  September,  1 898,  under  the  caption  "Alone 
in  Porto  Rico." 

F79l 


Pep}'  s's  Ghost 

June  8tb. — This  day  am  I  safely  returned 
home,  praised  be  the  Lord,  and  within  reach  once 
more  of  Christian  cloathes  and  ready  to  take  up 
my  journall  that  hath  lain  so  long  neglected  what 
time  I  was  jeoparded  of  my  life  by  the  Spanish 
King  his  souldiers  in  Puerto  Rico.  By  the  kind 
ness  of  the  English  sea  captain  §  that  did  take  me 
up  at  Santa  Cruz,||  a  sorry  waif  and  outcast,  I 
be  put  off  in  the  harbour  of  New  York,  beneath 
Brooklyn  Bridge  with  naught  to  call  mine  own 
but  a  monstrous  West  Indy  sombrero,  most  cun 
ningly  woven.  At  the  wharf  was  I  met  by 
diverse  gazeteers,  eager  for  a  full  tale  of  my  capti 
vating  and  how  I  baffled  the  Spanish  Captain 
General  that  thirsted  for  my  blood,  and  I  highly 
pleased  to  see  them  for  in  sooth  I  was  penniless 
and  could  not  have  contrived  to  cross  the  ferry 
but  for  one  friendly  gazeteer  paying  the  waterman 
from  his  own  purse.  Landing  at  the  Battery  I 
must  needs  stand  still  for  one  of  them  to  make 
my  counterfeit  presentment  for  his  gazette,  but 
was  ill  pleased  thereby,  he  painting  me  with  fierce 
moustachios,  like  unto  a  Turk  or  Tartar,  such  as 
I  never  had.  They  leaving  me,  I  did  set  out  to 
walk  up  Broadway  on  foot,  having  no  money 
wherewith  to  take  coach  to  Mr.  Arkell  his  office, 
but  I  sorely  ashamed  to  walk  in  such  poor  garb 
and  outlandish  hat,  yet  glad  to  observe  how  none 
turn  on  their  heel  to  stare  after  me.  So  great  a 
citye  hath  this  town  become  that  naught  doth 
astonish  our  citizen  people  any  more,  no  not  the 
Great  Mogul  himself  should  he  ride  on  our  streets 
in  state. 

^j  Coming  to   Union  Square,  I   did  turn  aside  to 
walk  to  the  great   Judge  Building  and  there  was 

hailed 

g  Capt.  ,  of  Quebec  mail  steamer,  Madiana. 

j|  St.  Croix,  Danish  West  Indies. 
[80] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

hailed  by  a  gentleman  of  Mr.  Munsey  his  staff, 
who  doth  put  me  in  a  sore  fright  telling  me  how 
all  track  be  lost  of  my  wife  and  me  believed  to  be 
dead.  So  to  Mr.  Arkell  his  office,  but  encoun 
tered  there  naught  but  dire  distress  and  confusion 
with  no  welcome  word  from  any  man,  until  wax 
ing  wroth  I  did  demand  of  the  old  doorkeeper  the 
cause  of  this  their  neglect  of  me  that  had  risked 
all  for  their  sake. 

^f  Then  did  he  recall  my  countenance,  and  seemeth 
glad  to  greet  me,  but  told  me  how  this  very  day 
the  whole  company  with  all  the  sundry  gazettes 
and  bookes  published  by  them,  be  turned  over  to  a 
publick  Receiver  by  the  Court,  and  so  learned  to 
my  consternation  that  all  the  moneys  due  me  must 
be  in  default  leastwise  for  some  time  to  come. 
There  tarried  for  a  while,  deeply  disconsolate,  till 
an  errand  boy  calling  for  me,  I  found  it  to  be  a 
message  from  my  wife,  wherein  she  did  apprise  me 
of  her  newe  abode  on  Morningside  Hill,  and  like 
wise  a  letter  from  Lieutenant  Whitney  telling  me 
how  he  too  be  safely  out  of  the  clutches  of  the 
Spaniard  and  bidding  me  make  haste  to  meet  him 
at  his  secret  office  in  the  War  Department. 
^j  So  away  and  to  my  wife  her  house  on  Morning- 
side  Hill,  a  kind  friend  loaning  me  moneys  where 
with  to  have  a  barber  trim  my  unkempt  hair  and 
enough  left  over  to  take  coach  to  Harlaem,  and  so 
home  to  my  dear  wife  and  little  children,  and  very 
blithe,  all  of  us,  to  be  together  again,  but  most  of 
any  one  my  wife  for  that  I  had  stripped  me  of  my 
red  beard  she  was  loath  to  behold. 

June  loth. —  Up  early  and  did  prepare  my  re 
port  for  the  War  Department.  To  the  office  and 
was  there  met  by  Doctor  Albert  Shaw  come  to 
entreat  me  to  pen  a  discourse  concerning  the  Isle 
of  Puerto  Rico,  to  be  printed  at  the  sign  of  the 

Review 
[81] 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

Review  of  Reviews.  It  doth  seem  that  the  gazet- 
eers  be  mad  for  this  business  sending  and  writing 
from  all  quarters  for  me  to  tell  them  the  tale  of 
my  adventure  in  the  West  Indies.  So  did  I  make 
rash  promises  to  pen  a  piece  for  Mr.  McClure  and 
Mr.  Doubleday  *  and  did  likewise  engage  myself 
to  do  the  same  for  Mr.  Richard  Watson  Gilder 
his  Gazette,f  but  am  in  a  puzzle  how  to  please 
them  each.  Home  to  dinner  and  did  there  break 
to  my  wife  the  business  of  my  journey  to  Wash 
ington,  whereat  she  taketh  affright  lest  I  be  further 
drawn  into  the  War.  Nor  could  I  appease  her 
but  by  her  journeying  with  me. 
Tf  So  made  ready  in  great  haste,  and  leaving  the 
children  with  our  girl  Ellen,  did  cross  the  water  at 
three  of  the  clock  in  Mme  to  travell  with  the  fast 
post  for  Parliament. J 

^f  After  supper  along  the  way  we  into  the  citye 
and  alight  after  dark.  Behold  in  the  relay  station 
stands  my  old  friend  and  schoolmate  Mr.  Tassin 
to  bid  us  welcome  and  likewise  my  newe  friend 
Lieutenant  Whitney,  and  maketh  a  gallant  salute 
to  my  ladye,  after  the  handsome  manner  of  our 
souldier  men.  Mr.  Tassin  plucking  my  sleeve,  I 
did  perceive  his  intent  and  so  presented  one  man 
to  another.  Each  thereon  maketh  a  claim  to  re 
ceive  us  at  his  house,  but  put  an  end  to  their  strife 
upon  my  telling  them  how  I  must  needs  bide 
at  an  inne.  Lieut.  Whitney  did  then  offer  to 
conduct  us  to  the  Ebbit  Inne,  which  he  doth 
bespeak  as  a  fair  old  fashioned  hostelry,  where  it 
be  the  wont  of  army  and  navy  men  to  foregather, 
whereat  my  wife  giveth  him  a  black  look,  fearth- 
some  as  she  still  be  of  some  dark  design  to  entice 

me 

*  McClure's  Magazine. 

f  The  Century  Magazine. 

J  The  Congressional  Limited  Express. 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

me  into  the  Army,  but  I  feigned  to  heed  it  no 
wise,  and  so  alight  at  the  Taverne  and  there  made 
shift  to  stay  awhile,  our  friends  leaving  us  for 
the  night. 

yune  nth. —  Up  betimes  and  breakfasted  in 
the  common  room,  with  blackamoor  servants  to 
wait  upon  us.  Here  was  a  merry  company  of 
old  sea  dogs  and  gray-beard  fighting  cocks  sitting 
cheek  by  jowl  with  ensign  cornets  and  beardless 
striplings  called  hither  from  West  Point  and 
Annapolis  to  be  despatched  to  their  commands  at 
the  fighting  front.  Mistress  Whitney  coming  to 
pay  her  respects  to  my  wife,  I  away,  and  to  her 
husband  his  office  in  the  War  Department  and 
there  was  summoned  into  their  secret  chamber  to 
lay  before  them  all  that  I  knew  of  the  Spaniards' 
their  stronghold  in  the  harbour  of  San  Juan  de 
Puerto  Rico.  Then  was  I  deeply  shamed  how 
little  in  sooth  mine  eyes  had  beheld  to  be  of  ser 
vice  to  their  needs,  but  they  bid  me  be  of  good 
cheer  and  did  shewe  to  me  their  secret  map  of  the 
Island  that  did  contayne  most  all  what  I  had  fayled 
to  record.  One  Captain  Rowan  §  coming  in,  he 
and  Mr.  Whitney  did  fall  into  a  dispute  anent 
certayn  ways  and  byways  in  Cuba,  fit  for  heavy 
guns  to  march  on,  and  so  made  shift  to  unroll 
sundry  rolls  of  their  secret  map  of  the  Antilles, 
the  biggest  and  most  largest  chart  that  ever  I  be 
held  in  all  my  born  life  time.  In  the  midst  of  their 
hot  talke,  the  chief  officer  of  the  Bureau  draweth 
me  aside  and  bids  me  prepare  a  full  written  record 
of  all  I  beheld  for  the  secret  informacion  of  the 
Government,  and  likewise  bids  me  report  to  Mr. 
Moore,  the  Under  Secretary  of  State,  who  hath 

requested 

§  Major  Rowan,  who  conducted  the  secret  recon- 
noissance  into  Cuba  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Spanish- 
American  War. 


p  e py  s's  Ghost 

requested  my  presence.  The  noon  hour  having 
struck  Lieutenant  Whitney  he  inviteth  me  to  take 
a  draught  with  him  at  the  Acrobatick  Guild*  near 
bye  and  there  beheld  diverse  cunning  instruments 
for  acrobatick  play  and  a  deep  water  tank  withal, 
untill  drawing  me  into  the  tap  room  he  calls  for 
two  drams  of  sweet  cordial  and  so  fell  to  talke  on 
each  his  adventures  in  the  West  Indies  and  the 
poor  rum  to  be  had  in  Puerto  Rico.  Then  grow 
ing  both  an-hungered  he  leadeth  me  away  to  Mr. 
Harlan  his  grill  room  and  calling  for  a  privy 
table,  we  fell  too  on  some  toothsome  devil  crabbes 
with  a  good  stoup  of  ale  to  boot  and  so  lingered 
there  a  long  time  with  earnest  protestations  of 
lasting  friendship. 

^[To  the  Office  of  State  and  was  straightway 
brought  to  the  presence  of  Mr.  Moore,  who  did 
ask  me  sundry  searching  questions  and  at  last 
demandeth  for  high  reasons  of  State  that  I  dis 
avow  any  publick  employment  by  the  War  Office 
since  that  the  Secretary  of  State  when  beseeched 
to  come  to  my  relief  in  the  days  of  mine  emprison- 
ment  hath  importuned  the  Embassadours  of  Eng 
land  and  France,  to  depose  with  the  King  of  Spain 
that  I  was  no  prying  spy  but  innocent  travelling 
gazeteer  held  captive  in  errour.  Hence  the  Secre 
tary  of  State  doth  deem  it  imperious  that  these 
foreign  Embassadours  be  not  led  to  believe  that 
their  good  offices  of  mediation  in  my  behalf  be 
rendered  to  a  mere  luckless  espion  on  bad  faith  and 
therefore  did  advise  that  I  suffer  the  Secretary  of 
War  to  make  publick  denial  of  my  complicity 
with  his  Office.  To  all  of  this  did  I  cheerfully  say 
aye  and  so  left  Mr.  Moore  in  high  contentment. 
To  the  play  house  with  my  wife  and  there  saw 
the  Pirates  of  Pemance,  a  trifling  opera,  and  ill 
sung.  June 

*  Washington  Athletic  Club. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

June  ifth. —  Up  and  to  breakfast,  my  wife 
showing  the  War  Office  their  publick  denial  in 
the  penny  gazette  of  my  doings  for  them,  as  was 
duly  set  forth  by  the  Secretary  of  State.  So  away 
and  to  the  War  Department  to  finish  the  business 
of  my  report.  This  done  to  their  satisfaction  Mr. 
Whitney,  who  was  this  day  raised  to  a  captaincy 
by  order  of  the  President,  taketh  me  to  General 
Alger,  his  office,  and  there  presenteth  me  to  Mr. 
Mason  his  under  secretary,  and  was  begged  by 
him  to  await  the  coming  of  General  Alger  himself. 
Presently  in  cometh  Mr.  Hearst,*  and  sitting  him 
down  beside  me  tells  me  how  he  is  bent  on  going 
to  the  War,  be  it  as  commander  of  his  own  boat 
the  Bucaneer,  be  it  as  a  plain  gazeteer  and  so  is 
come  to  Washington  to  bring  the  business  to  an 
issue  with  the  War  Office.  Anon  comes  General 
Alger,  and  I  stepping  aside  in  courtesy  Mr.  Hearst 
is  bidden  into  his  privy  office.  Their  business 
ended  to  Mr.  Hearst  his  contentment  he  biddeth 
me  a  hasty  farewell,  saying  how  he  must  forth 
with  prepare  to  sail  for  Cuba,  and  thus  I  am 
ushered  into  the  privy  office. 

^j  General  Alger  prays  that  I  be  seated,  the  whilst 
he  signeth  some  letters  and  at  the  same  time  sends 
forth  his  privy  aide-de-camp  to  summon  Gen'l 
Miles  into  the  council  chamber.  Then  did  he 
present  me  to  him  as  the  Commanding  General 
and  so  had  some  talke  together,  untill  other 
matters  pressing  in  between,  General  Miles  he 
beareth  me  away  with  him  to  his  own  chamber 
and  there  I  did  render  unto  him  what  aid  and 
assistance  I  could  for  his  great  project  the  seizure 
of  Puerto  Rico. 

^|  At  last  when  all  is  committed  black  on  white,  I 
be 

*  W.  E.  Hearst,  Publisher  of  New  York  Journal  and 
San  Francisco  Examiner. 


P  e py  s's  Ghost 

be  suffered  once  more  to  go  forth  and  there  found 
Capt.  Whitney  awaiting  me  in  the  hall  way, 
eager  to  learn  what  passed  between  us,  and  tells 
me  how  there  is  some  plan  under  foot  to  undo 
him  but  I  made  light  of  the  matter.  Whilst  we 
still  stand  thus  in  earnest  talke  together  a  courier 
bringeth  me  a  despatch  from  Lieutenant-Colonell 
Roosevelt  bidding  me  follow  his  command  in  all 
haste  to  Cuba,  his  troopers  sailing  from  Tampa 
that  self  same  day. 

^f  To  the  Ebbit  Inne,  mine  head  full  of  big  proj 
ects  and  straunge  mediations  untill  after  supper 
with  my  wife  all  is  forgot  over  a  highly  formal 
invitacion  for  us  to  be  presented  to  the  President 
at  the  White  House,  his  official  mansion,  on  the 
morrow. 

June  l '5th. —  Up  late  and  made  ready  to  go 
before  the  President,  my  wife  prinking  herself  in 
her  newe  silken  smocke  of  pearl  gray,  French 
heeled  pattens  and  feather  bonnet  whilst  I  did  don 
my  skirted  frock  doublet  with  lackered  shoen,  and 
glossy  beaver  hatte,  and  so  sallied  forth  and  took 
coach  to  the  White .  House.  It  did  warm  the 
cockles  of  my  heart  to  be  so  handsomely  received, 
both  my  wife  and  I,  the  President  proving  himself 
highly  gracious  to  the  ladyes  and  did  plie  me  with 
many  curious  questions  of  the  wealth  and  trade 
of  Puerto  Rico,  more  indeed  than  I  could  well 
answer.  'Tis  manifest  that  his  heart  be  set  on 
seizing  this  Island  and  all  other  colonies  of  the 
Spanish  King's  dominions. 

June  1 6. —  Up  betimes  and  wrote  all  morning 
until  noon.  After  dinner  to  the  War  Office  there 
to  say  farewell  to  my  friends,  above  all  Capt. 
Whitney.  'Tis  all  settled  how  he  is  to  go  with 
General  Miles  for  the  conquest  of  Puerto  Rico. 
^f  In  the  evening,  did  entertayn  our  friends  at  sup 
per 

[86] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

per,  a  passing  good  meal  with  a  frolicksome  cup 
of  wine,  whence  to  the  play  house  to  see  ye  olde 
musick  piece  of  Pinafore.  'Twas  but  poorly 
played  and  worse  sung  and  so  said  goodbye  once 
more  and  so  home  to  New  York  by  the  midnight 
post  sleeping  ill  all  the  way. 

'June  ijth. —  Up  early  and  late  to  bed  writyng 
hard  all  day. 

June  i8th. —  Wrote  all  day  and  sent  finished 
tale  to  Dr.  Shaw  at  his  office  on  Astor  Place. 

June  igth. — This  day  come  harassing  reports 
of  our  marines  their  stiff  fight  agaynst  Spanish 
bushwhackers  on  Guantanamo  Hill  and  Surgeon 
Gibbs  his  brave  death,*  but  I  hear  all  with  but 
half  an  ear,  deep  in  work  on  my  long  tale  for 
Mr.  Gilder. 

June  2Oth. —  Worked  hard  all  day. 

June  2 1st. —  Up  betimes  and  wrote  long,  finish 
ing  of  my  tale,  and  so  by  noon  to  Mr.  Gilder  his 
office  on  Union  Square  and  read  him  my  tale,  he 
finding  all  good  and  to  his  taste,  but  for  the  ex 
ceeding  length  of  it,  and  so  sate  me  down  at  his 
desk  and  bravely  shortened  the  tale  by  nigh  one 
thousand  wordes,  though  God  forgive  me  it  did 
make  my  scrivener's  heart  to  bleed.  This  done 
Mr.  Gilder  and  his  helpmeet  Mr.  Underwood 
Johnson  carry  me  away  to  dine  with  them  at  the 
Players'  Guild  on  Gramercy  Park,  a  good  merry 
meal  forsooth  with  merry  company  of  playwrights 
and  paynters  to  make  it  go  down,  but  Lord,  how 
the  time  passed  us  by,  nor  knew  it  not,  till  even 
tide  befell.  So  home,  and  took  great  joy  with  my 
wife  and  children,  the  first  I  have  had  in  many  a 
day  since  this  wretched  war  was  begun. 

June 

*  Promising  young  physician  of  New  York,  appointed 
first  volunteer  naval  surgeon  from  New  York  by  Theo 
dore  Roosevelt. 

[87] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

June  22d. — This  day  word  reacheth  us  how 
our  Army  be  landed  in  Cuba,  with  none  lost 
in  the  hazard  but  a  blackamoor  trooper  what 
slipped  and  fell  into  the  sea  nor  knew  how  to  save 
himself  swimming,  albeit  Capt.  O'Neill  ||  of 
Colonell  Roosevelt's  staff  strived  hard  to  succor 
him,  by  dyving  from  the  wharf.  Some  say  the 
landing  place  be  named  Daiquiri,  some  have  it 
Daiquiri,  whilst  others  agayn  hold  it  to  be  Agua- 
dores  where  British  troops  erstwhile  did  gain  their 
first  foothold,  so  confused  and  nonsensical  are  our 
newes  from  the  War  in  t.'ie  West  Indies. 

'June  2^.th. —  Up  and  to  Doctor  Albert  Shaw 
his  office  on  Astor  Place  to  survey  his  printers' 
proofs  of  what  I  writ  for  his  Gazette  anent  the 
Isle  of  Puerto  Rico.  Issuing  hence  and  into 
Broadway  the  Evening  Gazette  is  thrust  before 
mine  eyes  and  did  there  behold  a  piece  of  alarum 
newes  printed  in  blood-red  lettering  of  the  Span 
iards  their  ambuscade  of  our  dismounted  horse  led 
by  Wheeler  *  and  Wood  f  into  a  bosquet  of 
guasimas  trees,  with  great  slaughter  alike  to  friend 
and  foe.  There  was  done  to  death  my  whilom 

friend 

j|"Buck"  O'Neil,  the  former  sheriff  of  Prescott, 
Ariz.  He  was  killed  on  July  I,  1898,  a  Spanish  bullet 
striking  him  in  the  mouth. 

*  Major-General  Joseph  Wheeler,  U.S.V.,  commander 
of  the  Cavalry  Division  in  the  Spanish-American  War 
and  former  major-general  in  the  Confederate  Army  dur 
ing  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  where  he  earned  all  his 
steps  and  the  sobriquet  "Fighting  Joe"  as  a  cavalry 
leader. 

f  Brigadier-General  Leonard  Wood,  then  colonel  of 
the  First  Volunteer  Cavalry,  better  known  as  the  "  Rough 
Riders."  Later  he  was  appointed  governor  of  the  Prov 
ince  of  Santiago. 


[88] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

friend  and  crony  Ham  Fish,J  whom  last  I  saw 
what  time  he  did  ply  a  winning  oar  with  his  col- 
edge  crewe  in  the  boat  races  under  Poughkeepsie 
bridge.  These  newes  did  so  arouse  me,  that  I 
plainly  see  how  I  can  here  abide  no  longer,  but 
must  follow  my  bent  to  go  to  the  warres,  for 
which  God  forgive  me  and  my  poore  wife  what 
setteth  such  store  by  me.  Yet,  this  hath  ever 
been  fast  implanted  in  my  hearte  that  if  mine  own 
people  be  drawn  into  warring  on  other  peoples  I 
must  needs  take  a  hand  in  the  fray  nor  can  I  draw 
back  now  that  this  thing  hath  indeed  come  to  pass. 
So  I  in  all  haste  did  wend  my  way  to  Bart  Arkell  § 
his  office  and  did  plead  with  him  to  send  me  forth 
agayn  as  his  battelle  gazeteer,  but  he  set  himself 
agaynst  it  complayning  bitterly  of  money  troubles, 
yet  I  so  mad  to  go,  he  at  last  calleth  in  Mr. 
Sleicher,||  who  doth  consent  that  I  have  my  way 
but  would  fain  have  me  go  with  no  other  stipend 
but  what  would  be  my  due  were  I  to  take  no 
further  hazard.  To  this  could  I  never  consent, 
no  not  for  my  wife  her  sake,  so  leaving  them  with 
apologetick  wordes,  I  went  straightway  to  the 
river  front,  to  Mr.  Collier,*  his  printing  house, 
and  did  there  find  his  son  Bob  f  in  the  act  of 
having  his  hair  trimmed.  Beholding  him  thus 
held  fast,  whence  he  could  nowise  elude  me,  I  did 
unfold  to  him  mine  intent  of  following  the  com 
mand  of  Colonel  1  Roosevelt,  and  freely  offered 
him  my  services. 

Wben 

J  Hamilton  Fish,  Jr. ,  sergeant  of  Troop  L,  First  Vol 
unteer  Cavalry,  a  noted  college  athlete  and  society  beau 
of  New  York  City. 

§  Publisher  of  Leslie's  Weekly. 

||  Editor-in-chief  of  same  publication. 

*  Peter  Fenelon  Collier,  publisher. 

f  Robert  J.  Collier,  editor  of  Collier's  Weekly. 


P  epy  s's   Ghost 

^|  When  dost  mean  to  start  on  thy  voyage  to  Santiago  f 
quoth  he.  On  the  morrow,  quoth  I,  an  thou  makest 
no  stint  of  travel  allowance. 

^|  Go  forth  and  do  thine  utmost,  quoth  he.  Thou 
behest  a  fellow  after  mine  own  hearte,  and  therewith 
giveth  me  a  voucher  for  ^150,  and  so  I  left  him 
still  seated  in  his  privy  barber  chair,  truly  a  man 
with  a  quick  wit  and  a  quick  open  hand  to  do 
its  bidding. 

^f  Thence  I  to  Fulton  Wharf,  where  the  swift 
cruiser  St.  Paul  lieth  moored,  and  there  coming 
across  Mr.  Reuterdahl,  the  marine  draughtsman  do 
persuade  him  to  return  with  me  on  board  the 
shippe  and  there  on  the  gang  plank  he  did  present 
me  to  Nick  Kane,J  whom  I  last  saw  when  he 
was  commodore  of  the  Sailing  Masters'  League,§ 
but  is  now  entered  into  this  war  as  Capt.  Sigs- 
bee  his  flag  lieutenant,  and  is  clearly  fitted  to  go 
into  the  Navy,  he  having  learned  his  trade  of  the 
sea  while  still  a  little  midshipman  on  a  man-o'- 
war's  deck.  So  the  Dansk  artist  doth  leave  me 
with  him,  but  did  privily  lay  a  wager  against  me 
that  Captain  Sigsbee  would  nevermore  receave 
me  on  board  his  shippe.  Lieutenant  Kane  on 
hearing  of  my  wish  straightway  layeth  my  request 
before  Captain  Sigsbee,  with  great  courtesy  and  so 
getteth  his  captain  to  agree  to  take  me  with  him 
on  the  morrow  an  I  would  but  obtayn  the  consent 
of  the  Lord  High  Admiral  of  the  Navy.  This 
was  I  nothing  loath  and  did  forthwith  despatch  a 
message  to  the  Navy  Office. 

^[  This  done  I  home  and  there  broke  the  newes  to 
mine  wife  and  little  children,  in  sooth  a  sad  leave 
taking  and  such  as  I  shall  never  undergo  another 

time 

J  Nicholson    Kane,    a    noted    yachtsman    and    former 
naval  officer. 

§  New  York  Yacht  Club. 

[90] 


P  epy  s  V  Ghost 

time,   I   trow,   no   never,   so   God   grant   I   come 
home  from  this  Warre  safe  and  sound  agayn. 

Independence  Day. —  This  morning  come  more 
newes  of  battles  fought  agaynst  the  Spaniard  on 
land  and  sea,  with  great  slaughter  and  utter  defeat 
of  our  enemy  wherever  he  be  found.  On  land 
Colonell  Roosevelt  with  his  rough-ready  cavaliers 
fighting  in  the  guise  of  foot  souldiers  side  by  side 
with  our  blackamoor  troopers  did  wrest  the  chief- 
est  stronghold  of  the  Spaniard  away  from  him  by 
his  mad  onslaught  up  Monte  San  Juan,  what 
meaneth  the  hill  of  our  blessed  Saint  John  the 
Apostle  in  the  Iberian  tongue  nor  would  he  be 
denied  untill  his  troopers'  guidon  flags  did  fly  from 
the  top  of  the  castello  where  erstwhile  was  planted 
the  red  and  gold  standard  of  Leon  and  Castille. 
There  lost  we  many  a  good  cavalier,  foremost  of 
all  brave  Colonell  Wikoff  and  Captain  Buck 
O'Neill,  of  Colonell  Roosevelt's  light  horse,  who 
was  laid  low  by  a  musket  shot  striking  home  into 
his  mouth  even  as  he  was  boasting  to  his  comrades 
how  the  Spaniard  did  not  live  that  could  bring 
him  to  his  death.  In  sooth  a  fearthsome  refuta- 
cion  of  his  vain  glorious  wordes,  yet  pittyfull  so 
gallant  a  spirit  should  fall  in  such  manner  at  the 
very  hour  of  his  greatest  honour.  But  it  did 
warm  the  cockles  of  my  hearte  to  hear  of  the 
noble  bearing  of  that  game  old  fighting  cocke, 
Gen'l  Wheeler,  who  though  ailyng  grievously 
from  Cuban  fever  would  not  suffer  the  chirurgeans 
to  attend  him,  but  bravely  led  his  men  into  to  do 
battell  as  was  his  wont  in  the  days  when  he  did 
harrass  the  tribesmen  from  the  Northern  borders 
that  went  forth  to  wage  war  on  the  chivalry  of  the 
Southland. 

^[  All  these  prettie  frays  on  land  be  as  naught  be 
side  the  noble  sea  fight  won  by  our  fleet  over  the 

Spanish 

[9'] 


f  epy  s's  Ghost 

Spanish  Armada  off  Castel  Morro,  whereby  each 
and  every  one  of  their  battle  ships  was  brought  to 
wrack  and  ruin  and  the  Spanish  Almirante,  Mar 
quis  de  Cervera,  with  a  round  thousand  of  his  offi 
cers  and  seamen  made  prisoners.  'Tis  a  matter 
of  common  remark  how  both  fights  be  won  by 
our  common  souldiers  and  tarpaulins  with  their 
pettie  officers,  but  no  help  from  those  on  high,  the 
commandant  of  the  army  lying  sick  in  his  tent, 
and  our  Admiral  cruising  away  from  his  fleet  at 
the  hour  of  battle.  Thus  all  honour  of  the  vic 
tory  be  fallen  to  Commodore  Schley,  who  did 
lead  the  sea  fight  as  second-in-command,  albeit  all 
men  know  our  ships  had  done  no  worse  had  both 
Admirals  lain  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  as  is  made 
plain  beyond  all  peradventure  by  the  mad  assault 
of  our  sloop  of  war  The  Gloucester  that  erst 
while  cruised  the  high  seas  as  a  Corsair,  uponne 
two  Spaniards  all  at  once,  her  captain  Commander 
Wainwright  fighting  each  Spaniard  to  a  stand  still 
and  the  stryking  of  his  colours,  nor  even  waited 
for  orders  from  any  one  on  high  to  do  his  bidding. 
Therefore  I  hear  much  evil  talke  of  Admiral 
Sampson  his  overleaping  ambition  in  claiming  the 
whole  share  of  the  victory  for  himself  alone,  when 
in  sooth  he  hath  had  no  part  in  it  save  mayhap 
the  planning  of  our  shippes  their  several  places 
and  his  own  vain  pursuit  of  the  Spanish  flagship 
El  Gran  Almirante  Cristobal  Colon,  that  was 
already  fallen  a  prey  to  the  long  guns  of  our  good 
ship  Oregon,  with  the  Commodore  his  flagship 
and  the  Texas  coming  after  in  her  wake.  The 
Spaniard  having  no  big  guns  fit  to  match  our  fleet 
cruisers  hounding  him  to  his  death,  did  first  stryke 
his  colours  and  then  wrack  his  shippe  on  the  shore 
thus  foyling  our  men  of  the  fruits  of  their  long 
chase.  'Twas  a  coward's  trick,  leastwise  so  say 
most  honest  sailors  men.  Such 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

^f  Such  brave  newes  coming  altogether  on  this  our 
holiday,  do  indeed  turn  the  heads  of  our  good 
people  and  make  them  lecherous  for  the  utter 
downfall  of  the  Spaniard,  but  most  of  all  mine 
own  selfe,  who  am  nigh  beside  myself  to  take  a 
hand  in  it  and  so  will  brook  no  further  delay,  no, 
not  if  I  must  find  me  another  shippe  to  bear  me 
Southward.  To-night,  therefore,  will  I  once  more 
hie  me  to  Washington  to  see  what  may  be  done 
for  me  at  the  Navy  Office. 

7ufy  5- —  Up  late  in  the  Washington  relay  house 
after  a  hot  night  spent  sleeping  in  the  fast  despatch 
coach.  So  made  haste  to  walk  to  the  Navy 
Office,  nor  tarried  even  to  barely  breakfast  and  so 
reached  there  in  such  good  season  that  I  found  but 
few  of  the  clerks  at  their  places  leastwise  not  at 
the  Navigation  Chamber,  and  so  sate  me  down 
to  await  Commodore  Crowninshield  *  his  coming. 
Presently  he  cometh  in  very  late  and  was  forth 
with  accosted  by  me,  I  enquiring  of  him  when  the 
next  shippe  was  to  sail.  He  feigned  exceeding 
wonder  thus  to  behold  me  and  quotha  Metbought 
you  was  on  board  our  good  shippe  Saint  Paulus,  what 
saileth  this  very  day  for  Cuba. 

^f  I  did  protest  to  him  how  I  knew  it  not,  having 
been  purposely  kept  in  darkness,  but  he  denied  it 
and  said  furthermore  how  'twas  too  late  now  ever 
to  catch  her  again. 

^f  Then  will  I  trie  my  uttermost  to  foil  you  say  I  in 
high  anger  and  so  turned  on  my  heel  and  straight 
way  hied  me  back  to  the  relay  station  in  bare  time 
to  demand  a  seat  on  the  fast  return  coach  to 
Gotham  and  so  back  once  more  exceeding  wroth 
yet  fearthsome  lest  the  Saint  Paulus  sail  away 
without  me,  and  he  have  spoken  true. 
^f  On  the  coach  with  me  was  an  officer  of  Gen- 
eral 

*  Chief  of  Navigation  Bureau  in  Navy  Department. 
f93l 


Pepys's  Ghost 

eral  Guy  Henry  his  staff,  who  did  likewise  mean 
to  go  aboard  the  same  shippe,  so  he  and  I  did 
comfort  one  another,  till  late  past  the  hour  of 
noon  we  drew  into  Jersey  town,  and  'lighting  in 
haste  foregathered  in  the  ferryman's  boat  whence 
we  could  plainly  see  the  Saint  Paulus  warping 
out  into  the  stream  from  the  other  side  all  ready 
to  out  of  the  Narrows  West-Indy  ward.  So 
hailed  a  waterman  and  had  him  bring  us  alongside 
the  cruiser  where  she  lay  and  so  boarded  her  by  a 
rope  ladder  lowered  for  us  by  one  of  her  sea  men. 
July  8th. —  Up  early,  ere  day  light,  summoned 
upon  deck  by  call  to  quarters,  and  there  beheld  the 
crewe  running  to  their  guns  and  the  officers  stand 
ing  by  with  swordes  and  pistolet  in  hand  spying 
seaward,  a  brave  sight  that  made  my  blood  to  tingle 
for  combat.  Eftsoon  Mr.  Sprague  f  doth  join  me 
on  the  quarter  deck  and  upon  enquiry  from  Gen'l 
Henry,J  strutting  on  the  bridge  next  to  Capt. 
Sigsbee  made  shift  to  learn  how  a  man  o'  war  be 
sighted  in  the  offing,  the  light  to  puzzlesome  yet 
to  make  out  his  colours.  So  bore  down  upon  him, 
all  hands  ready  to  belay  him,  but  the  smoke  clear 
ing  somewhat  made  the  shippe  out  to  be  one  of 
our  own  cruisers  making  for  port  with  despatches 
from  the  Admiral,  nor  tarried  in  her  course  to 
pay  much  heed  to  our  signals,  her  Captain  content 
to  fly  one  signal  from  his  mizzen  the  which  rightly 
translated  was  found  to  read  All  well  at  Santi 
ago.  Thereat  much  rejoycing  on  board,  most  of 
all  amongst  Col.  Dick's  men,§  but  methought  a 

trifle 

•{•  Howard  Sprague,  marine  and  war  artist  for  the  Cen 
tury  Magazine.  He  died  shortly  after  his  return  from 
cruising  in  the  West  Indies. 

|  General  Guy  V.  Henry,  later  American  military 
governor  of  Puerto  Rico. 

§  Eighth  Ohio  Volunteers. 

[94] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

trifle  overmuch  for  souldiers  lusting  for  the  fray. 
Mr.  Sprague  plucking  me  by  the  sleeve,  I  follow 
him  into  the  Quartermaster's  cabin  and  sate  us 
down  there  in  the  darkness  within,  no  light  nor 
firebrand  whatsoever  suffered  on  this  cruise  by 
Capt.  Sigsbee,  and  George  Lynch,||  the  chronicler 
joyning  our  merry  company  did  fall  into  deep  dis 
course  of  the  causes  of  this  war  and  what  may  still 
befall  if  the  Spaniard  be  not  speedily  brought  to 
his  knees.  Some  talke  arising  on  the  sheer  fighting 
qualities  of  our  men  and  theirs,  Dick  Webb,*  the 
Quartermaster  doth  lay  great  stress  on  the  superior 
breed  of  the  men  behind  our  guns,  and  upon  some 
slighting  disparagement  from  Mr.  Lynch,  he  wax- 
eth  highly  wroth  and  for  to  prove  his  wordes  doth 
bid  us  follow  him  to  the  stokers'  hatch  and  there 
summons  forth  three  stokers  by  name  as  grimy 
and  besooted  devils  as  ever  I  did  behold,  and  there 
before  their  very  faces  he  proclaimeth  to  us  how 
these  wretched  varlets  be  in  truth  gentlemen  born 
and  bred  who  have  but  taken  up  with  this  dogges' 
life  to  have  a  share  in  the  war  for  the  glory  of  it. 
Then  did  Mr.  Lynch  cry  out  in  amazement  and 
eagerly  clasping  each  by  his  horny  hand,  called 
them  rummy  boys,  but  I  plying  them  with  further 
questions  was  astonied  to  learn  that  they  be  col- 
ledge  taught  lads,  one  having  took  his  degree  at  Sir 
William  Penn  his  coledge,t  another  at  the  Uni 
versity  of  California  and  the  third  proud  of  his 
sheep's  skin  that  he  bore  away  with  him  from  the 
ancient  coledge  of  William  and  Mary  in  the  Vir 
ginias.  So  stood  we  some  while  in  converse,  they 
telling  us  of  their  hard  life  in  the  bottom  of  the 

ship 

1 1  War  correspondent  for  London  Chronicle. 
*  Richard  H.  Webb,  third  officer  on  American  liner  St. 
Paul,  then  serving  in  the  Volunteer  Navy, 
•j*  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

[95] 


P  epy  s's  G  bos  t 

ship  for  ever  more  feeding  her  red  hot  fires  to 
make  them  burn  hotter  still,  like  unto  the  spirits 
of  the  damned  in  their  hell  holes,  untill  it  secretly 
shamed  me  to  stand  before  them  so  idle  an  fellow 
yet  daintily  dressed  in  white  linen,  clean  shaven 
and  well  fed.  So,  when  mess  call  was  sounded  I 
mighty  glad  for  one  to  come  away  and  break  fast 
with  the  officers  at  their  mess  table. 
*|j  Our  converse  at  table  falling  on  these  same 
young  sailor  lads  what  left  the  fair  halls  of  Academe 
to  bury  them  alive  in  the  coal  black  belly  of  a 
ship,  and  Master  Lynch  bestowing  upon  them  and 
theyr  ilk  all  manner  of  praise,  Colonell  Dick  doth 
toss  his  black  locks  scornfullike  and  proclaimeth 
that  there  be  two  men  serving  with  his  regiment  in 
the  guise  of  common  souldiers  here  aboard  this  ship, 
what  be  not  only  college  bred  gentlemen  but  blood 
cozens  to  the  High  Commander-in-chief  of  all  our 
Armies  and  Navies,  President  McKinley.  Hearing 
this  I  did  sally  forth  upon  the  deck  and  jostling 
my  way  through  the  souldiers  crowding  hungry  like 
about  the  ship's  galley,  I  come  upon  young  Philips, 
son  of  the  whilom  clerk  to  our  High  Civil  Service 
Board, J  and  did  ask  him  how  about  this  tale  that 
the  nephews  of  our  President  be  serving  in  the 
ranks  of  his  regiment.  He,  very  civil,  doth  lead 
me  to  where  some  boxes  be  stored  behind  one  of 
the  after  guns,  and  there  calling  aloud  to  two  rude 
clowns  perched  high  upon  a  box  eating  their  gruel 
from  out  one  wretched  tin  cup,  doth  present  each 
in  turn  to  me  as  Gig  Barber  and  Jim  McKinley 
blood  cozens  to  one  another  and  both  having 
Major  William  McKinley  for  Uncle.  Whereat 
secretly  I  marvelled  greatly,  and  did  conceive  a 
better  liking  for  the  Chief  of  our  Nation  and  his 

kinsfolk, 

J  Lee   Philips,  secretary  of  New    York   Civil   Service 
Commission. 

[96] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

kinsfolk,  but  outwardly  gave  no  sign  of  wonder 
ment  but  laughed  and  jested  merrily  with  the  two 
souldier  lads  until  Sprague  passing  by  our  way  must 
needs  make  a  counterfeit  presentment  of  us  there 
leaning  agaynst  the  shining  barrel  of  the  after  gun 
pointed  out  to  seaward.  § 

^f  To-night  the  lookout  in  the  crow's  nest  did 
show  to  me  a  small  island  shore  in  the  offing,  and 
told  me  how  this  be  the  true  place  where  the  great 
navigator  Sir  Cristopher  Columbus  first  set  foot  on 
the  Newe  World.  || 

July  p. — This  morning  we  lay  to  off  some  high 
hills,  with  green  slopes  coming  even  to  the  water's 
edge,  that  some  say  be  Altares  and  others  again 
Aguadores  where  British  sailormen  did  make  their 
first  assault  upon  Santiago  an  hundred  years  ago 
and  more,  but  found  it  to  be  a  mean  noisome 
hamlet  known  here-to-lands  by  the  name  of  Sibo- 
ney.  In  the  offing  lay  our  fleet  with  brave  canon- 
ading  to  and  fro  between  them  and  Castle  Morro, 
such  being  the  name  meseemeth  of  all  Spanish 
strongholds  strutting  out  into  sea.  Then  Captain 
Sigsbee  he  hath  me  up  to  the  bridge,  and  doth 
enquire  of  me  whether  I  still  so  eager  the  first  to 
land  and  on  my  telling  him  yea  doth  order  a  boat 
to  be  made  ready  for  me  at  once.  The  quarter 
master,  him  that  I  drunk  grogge  with  yestereen, 
runs  to  fetch  for  the  captain  some  gazettes  and 
epistles  to  Mr.  Roosevelt  he  did  constrain  me  to' 
carry  with  me  much  against  my  will,  and  Lieuten 
ant  Kane  *  he  giveth  me  a  kind  letter  to  his 

brother 

§  This  picture  was  later  reproduced  in  the  pages  of 
Collier's  Weekly,  with  the  erroneous  caption,  "Three 
War  Correspondents."  ||  Watling's  Island. 

*  Nicholson  Kane,  ex-commodore  of  New  York  Yacht 
Club,  then  serving  as  flag  lieutenant  aboard  the  United 
States  steamship  St.  Paul. 

[97] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

brother  Woodbury,f  serving  with  Wood  and 
Roosevelt's  Rough  Riders.  So  I  into  the  gig, 
after  a  last  farewell  to  all  I  knew  on  board,  and 
with  a  yo-ho  and  a  long  pull  the  sailor  lads  pulled 
for  the  shore  with  the  dinne  of  cannonading  grow 
ing  ever  louder  in  our  ears.  'Fore  we  could  lay 
to  at  an  old  rotten  wharf,  where  all  our  army  was 
landed,  not  counting  those  what  first  went  ashore 
further  up  the  coast  called  Daiquiri,  an  officer  on 
shore  bids  us  wait  until  some  wounded  troopers  be 
laid  away  in  the  spittle  ship's  J  small  boats  and  a 
horrider  sight  I  never  did  see  than  these  poor 
spoiled  men,  swaddled  in  their  bloody  bandages, 
one  poor  wretch  with  half  of  his  countenance  shot 
away  and  another  pierced  clean  through  the  belly, 
yet,  poor  wretches,  smiling  kindly  at  me  and  bid 
me  beware  how  I  go  unattended  to  the  front  of 
the  fighting,  whereat  I  answered  showing  them  my 
dag  in  its  holster  hanging  from  my  belt.  Anon 
cometh  Sylvester  Scovel*  down  to  the  water's  edge, 
eager  for  to  ship  his  despatches  with  some  outgoing 
ship,  and  knowing  one  another  from  the  days  we 
met  in  Key  West  before  the  war  outbroke,  he 
showeth  me  sundry  foul  huts  up  the  hill  where  Ned 
Marshal  §  lay  nursing  his  wound  since  he  was 
struck  down  in  the  first  charge  at  the  fight  in  the 
Guasimas  trees.  In  pity  I  did  clamber  up  a 
narrow  mule  path  leading  thereto,  but  found  not 
Ned  Marshall,  howsoever  a  goodly  company  of 

other 

•\  Woodbury  Kane,  captain  of  K  Troop,  First  Volun 
teer  Cavalry.  Well-known  amateur  yachtsman. 

J  Hospital  ship  Resolute. 

*War  correspondent  for  New  York  World  who 
achieved  a  succes  de  scandal  by  his  personal  encounter 
with  General  Shafter. 

§  Edward  Marshall,  war  correspondent  for  the  New 
York  'Journal. 

[98] 


Pepys's  Gbost 

other  gazeteers,  lying  like  unto  swine  in  their  sties, 
and  will  surely  all  die  from  the  yellow  fever  un 
less  haste  be  made  to  fire  the  foul  fever  stenched 
huts  as  hath  been  decreed  by  the  army  surgeons. || 
Eftsoons  am  I  joined  by  one  Master  Herndon, 
the  artist  stone  chiseller  what  came  along  on  our 
ship  as  a  stowaway  and  then  was  let  off  from  all 
punishment  thanks  to  his  grandsire's  good  name, 
and  he  doth  entreat  me  to  take  him  with  me  to 
Colonell  Roosevelt  his  headquarters  confessing 
privily  to  me  how  all  he  hath  done  be  to  that  one 
end  so  he  may  carve  a  graven  image  of  Theodore 
Roosevelt  from  the  clay  of  the  very  battlefield 
where  his  laurels  were  won.  Truly  this  be  a 
madcap  venture,  but  since  he  plead  with  me  so 
earnestly,  I  did  make  a  good  face  to  it,  and  so- 
we  two  set  out  along  the  wagon  trail  guided  on 
our  way  by  the  rattle  of  musquets  and  canonnad- 
ing  in  the  hills  beyond  us.  A  blackamoor  mule 
teer  driving  his  team  o'  four  furiously  up  behind 
us,  we  did  parley  with  him  for  to  give  us  a  ride, 
and  on  promise  of  some  dried  tobacco  plant,  he 
gladly  took  us  up,  and  so  rode  on  our  way 
perched  high  on  his  loadful  of  boxes  with  mus- 
quet  bullets  for  our  men  enfilading  the  Spaniard 
in  his  trenches.  Soon  we  came  out  in  a  clearing 
and  there  beheld  some  poor  headboards  stuck  up 
for  crosses  to  mark  the  spot  where  the  first  of  the 
Rough  Riders  fell,  and  alighting  did  find  all  the 
ground  underfoot  strewn  with  the  Spaniards  their 
bullets  and  the  trees  roundabout  grievously  frayed 
from  the  fierce  fight.  In  sooth,  where  I  stood 
nigh  to  the  spot  in  which  poor  Ham  Fish  was 
shot  to  death,  'twas  plain  to  be  seen  that  the 
Spaniard 

1 1  The  decree  was  carried  into  effect  two  days  later, 
when  all  the  huts  were  burned  and  a  yellow  fever  hospi 
tal  established  further  up  in  the  hills. 

[99] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

Spaniard  had  held  the  vantage  of  ground  and  had 
not  been  dislodged  from  his  hiding  place  but  for 
the  mad  onslaught  of  our  men  caught  in  such  hell 
ish  death  trap. 

^]  The  noise  of  battelle  nigh  bursting  mine  ears 
we  did  once  more  clamber  to  ye  wagon  perch  and 
laid  the  lash  on  the  mules  their  backs  for  to  make 
them  run  their  utmost,  lest  we  fall  a  prey  to  sharp 
shooters  hidden  in  the  tops  of  trees  on  the  high 
hillside  and  so  came  clattering  up  to  General 
Shafter  his  headquarters,  in  the  heart  of  the  woods. 
But  the  blackamoor  did  grumble  and  cry  out 
agaynst  the  orders  of  them  in  power  what  made 
him  go  sans  even  a  pistolet  wherewith  to  defend 
his  life,  he  and  his  ilk  not  being  ranked  as  soul- 
diers  albeit  receaving  nearly  the  same  pay.  So 
came  we  to  General  Shafter  his  headquarters, 
hidden  in  the  woods  a  league's  length  from  the 
field  of  battelle,  and  there  found  the  General  nurs 
ing  his  gouty  leg  on  a  tree  stump  attended  by 
Colonell  Jack  Astor  in  under  drawers,  his  soyled 
breeches  hanging  from  a  bush  to  dry  in  the  sun. 
Master  Herndon,  he  would  scarce  beleave  this  to 
be  indeed  the  commanding  General's  pavillion,  no 
flag  or  standard  marking  the  spot,  and  not  a  guard 
even  to  stand  sentinelle,  but  I  knowing  Jack 
Astor  well  by  sight  did  approach  him,  and  gave 
into  his  hand  the  letter  I  bore  from  General 
Alger,  chief  of  the  War  Office,  commending  me 
to  the  courtesy  of  all  officers  and  souldiers  afield. 
Gen'l  Shafter  then  did  bid  me  welcome  but  ex 
cused  him  from  further  wordes  saying  how  the 
fight  was  on  and  bid  me  make  haste  to  the  front 
if  perchance  I  be  bent  to  get  into  the  thick  of  it. 
Then  Master  Herndon  he  did  accost  the  General 
issimo  telling  him  of  his  sires  that  fought  in  the 
army  and  other  such  like  talke  till  issuing  thence 

I  heard 

[100] 


P  epy  s's  G  bo  s  t 

I  heard  a  voice  from  the  thicket  calling  me  by 
name  and  turning  thither  came  upon  the  tent  of 
Malcolm  MacDowell,f  the  Scotch  war  writer, 
squatting  there  in  the  high  grass  with  his  friend 
Harris,f  what  sailed  with  the  Rough  Riders  but 
now  lay  sick  unto  death  with  swamp  ague,  raving 
in  his  fever  of  his  part  in  the  fight  amongst  the 
Guasima  trees.  With  them  was  a  Cubano  bond 
servant,  a  swart  evil  looking  churl,  yet  well  dispo- 
sitioned,  who  did  pour  us  out  a  cup  of  their  rank 
country  brandy,  what  they  call  aguardiente  the 
English  whereof  is  burning  water.  Thus  cheered 
on  our  errand  we  came  away  from  hence,  guided 
on  our  way  by  the  ever  louder  roaring  noise  of 
cannonading  and  musquetry,  in  front,  and  by  sundry 
wounded  men  and  stragglers  seeking  the  rear. 
^|  Coming  to  a  ford  with  deep  water,  which  one 
trooper  did  call  by  the  name  of  bloody  bend,  I 
marvelled  to  see  such  wealth  of  good  raiment  and 
weapons  strewn  round  about,  a  blanket  here  and 
there  a  haversack  or  sidearm  enough  to  stack  an 
arsenai.  Whilst  we  still  stood  in  debate  how  to 
ford  the  stream  whether  to  swim  it  or  wade  all 
cloathed  and  shod,  there  cometh  the  sound  of  near- 
bye  musquetry  and  from  overhead  fall  leaves  and 
branches  cleft  in  twain  by  leaden  balls  striking 
through  the  thick  leafage.  We  had  scarce  swum 
the  ford  when  lo  there  cometh  down  the  road  a 
souldier  with  blood  streaming  down  his  counte 
nance  from  a  gaping  gash  in  his  pate  where  he 
had  been  struck  on  the  head  by  a  canister  from 
a  grenade  standing  by  the  long  cannon  of  the 
Rough  Riders  the  which,  he  said,  was  most  bravely 
handled  by  Lieutenant  Borrowe,  the  self  same 
gentleman  methinks  who  was  challenged  to  mor 
tal  combat  by  Mr.  Drayton  what  time  he  found 

him 
•)•  War  correspondents  for  the  Chicago  Record. 

[10,] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

him  in  his  lady's  bed  chamber  in  France.  The 
souldier,  quotha  Every  time  Borrowe  shot  of  his  long 
gun  at  the  hillside  where  the  Spanish  gunners  did  work 
their  field  pieces,  we  could  see  mud,  blood  and  corrup 
tion  flying  up  from  their  trenches.  I  was  so  tickled  to 
watch  'em  that  I  just  stood  by,  as  one  spell  bound,  till 
a  piece  of  lead  came  flying  along  and  knocked  me  head 
over  heels. 

^f  Anon  I  see  riding  down  from  the  firing  line  a 
fair  haired  man  on  a  good  roan  horse  who  coming 
nigh  unto  us,  did  prove  to  be  Master  Armstrong,§ 
him  that  I  did  sit  with  cheek  by  jowl  what  time 
we  did  both  write  our  screeds  at  the  sign  of  the 
Sun,  and  shewed  such  delight  to  behold  me  that 
haste  as  he  must  to  forward  his  despatches,  he 
nathless  drew  rein  and  dismounting  did  shake  me 
heartily  by  the  hand  and  so  bid  me  God  speed, 
with  word  how  to  reach  Colonell  Roosevelt's 
righting  troopers  and  then  to  horse  again  and 
spurred  his  steed  to  run  his  utmost.  We  pressing 
onward  incontinently  came  upon  a  field  spittal,  with 
sick  men  stretched  side  by  side  in  the  grass,  bleed 
ing  and  horrid  wounded,  and  one  poor  yellow  fe 
vered  wretch  belching  forth  the  black  vomit  that 
betokeneth  certain  death,  but  tarried  not,  till  we 
were  in  the  midst  of  our  souldiery,  every  musque- 
tier  discharging  each  his  piece  as  if  bent  upon 
outshooting  the  foe,  whom  none  could  see,  the 
Spanish  arquebuses  making  no  gray  smoke,  nor 
could  we  find  our  goal  in  the  turmoil,  till  a  cou 
rier  riding  by  did  direct  us  to  follow  along  the 
earthworks  ever  more  to  the  right  and  so  find  the 
dismounted  troopers  fighting  with  their  carbines 
at  the  furthest  end  of  the  line.  Eftsoons  the 
turmoil  of  bataille  cometh  to  a  lull,  a  white  flag 

rising 

§  H.  E.  Armstrong,  war  correspondent  for  the  New 
York  Sun. 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

rising  over  the  Spanish  generalissimo  his  pavillion, 
and  whence  we  stood  I  could  plainly  see  a  small 
white  flag  on  a  high  staff  borne  by  one  of  their 
officers  on  horseback  fluttering  its  way  towards 
our  lines,  for  them  to  parley  for  a  let  or  truce  in 
our  onslaught.  Whilst  they  parleyed  we  made 
our  way  to  the  Rough  Riders  their  lines.  There 
found  I  Colonell  Roosevelt  and  his  men  pitching 
their  tents  on  the  very  hill  side  they  had  wrested 
from  the  Spaniard,  the  place  bearing  the  name  of 
St.  John. 

^[  Ha,  quotha  Colonell  Roosevelt  gritting  his  teeth. 
Thou  here.  What  can  I  do  for  tbee?  Then  did  I 
tell  him  how  I  was  still  bent  on  following  his 
standard,  whereat  he  did  show  his  teeth  and  laugh. 
^|  /  need  men  saith  he  and  shall  be  only  too  glad  to 
take  tbee  in.  Thou  beest  the  right  sort  oy  fellow,  and 
asketh  me  what  guidon  bearer  I  would  fain  follow. 
H  Of  your  men,  quoth  I,  those  best  known  to  me  one 
and  all  follow  after  Mr.  Kane  ||  and  his  guidon  and  so 
would  I  too  whereon  Colonell  Roosevelt  did  call 
loudly  through  the  open  flap  of  his  pavillion 
for  Captain  Kane,  Captain  Kane,  and  thereby 
learned  I  to  my  secret  wonder  and  content 
ment  that  Woody  Kane  now  be  raised  one  step 
to  a  captaincy,  my  letters  to  him  all  reading 
to  Lieutenant  Kane.  He  having  come  up,  Colo 
nell  Roosevelt  presenteth  me  to  him  as  one  gen 
tleman  to  another,  and  suffereth  me  tell  him  my 
own  heart's  desire,  whereat  the  Capt.  grips  me  heart 
ily  by  the  hand  and  biddeth  me  sup  and  bide  the 
night  with  him  in  his  own  tent.  There  were  we 
joined  by  a  swart  little  officer,  Senor  Luna  *  by 

name 

||  Woodbury  Kane,  well-known  yachtsman  and  gen 
tleman  rider,  he  serving  as  captain  of  K  Troop,  First 
Volunteer  Cavalry. 

*  Maximiliano  Luna,  captain. 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

name  and  supped  right  merrily  by  candlelight,  a 
grim  visaged  Rough  Rider  bringing  us  our  food  on 
green  leaves  of  weeds  but  no  better  fare  an  some 
sailors'  hard  tack  and  three  bits  of  raw  bacon 
what  the  souldiers  call  sow  belly.  Supper  over, 
it  lasting  but  some  moments,  Capt.  Kane  he  calls 
up  Lieutenants  Tiffany  and  Ferguson  to-day  pro 
moted  to  officers  for  bravery,  but  their  commis 
sions  not  come  yet,  and  biddeth  them  take  charge 
of  me  as  a  new  trooper,  the  which  they  did  pleas 
antly  and  with  exceeding  courtesy  treating  me  in 
all  things  as  a  gentleman  whereat  I  marvelled 
greatly  in  mine  innermost  heart,  but  glad  that  it 
was  so.  Lieut.  Ferguson,  whom  they  say  is  a 
Scottish  cozen  to  Colonell  Roosevelt  did  turn  over 
to  me  his  carabine  and  bullet  belt  and  I  in  turn 
gave  him  my  dag  all  loaded  and  primed,  he  having 
the  guard  that  night  and  so  went  into  the  trenches 
to  take  our  post. 

^J  'Twas  indeed  a  prettie  sight  to  stand  in  the  gun 
pits  with  a  primed  carabine  between  the  hands  and 
so  gaze  over  to  the  Spaniard  his  lines  and  over 
them  down  into  the  strong  town  of  Santiago,  with 
houses  paynted  in  dyverse  colours,  blue,  pink  and 
yellow,  here  and  there  a  light  flicking  in  the 
empty  streets.  My  pleasance  lasted  not  overlong, 
rain  soon  pouring  down  a-filling  the  rifle  pits  with 
water  nearly  knee  high  and  thus  I  stood  drenched 
to  the  skin  in  the  dark  but  was  relieved  at  last  and 
summoned  to  the  captain's  pavillion.  There  lay 
long,  under  a  horrid  gust  of  rain  fall,  wetter  than 
ever  I  knew  before  nor  God  willing  shall  agayn 
behold,  water  flowing  over  and  through  us  every 
where,  till  all  were  drenched  like  water  rats. 
^|  In  the  middle  of  the  night,  when  the  storm  was 
roaring  incontinently,  of  a  sudden  there  be  heard 
shots  from  the  front,  then  more  shots  and  ex 
change 
[104] 


P  epy  s's  G  b  o  J  / 

change  of  musquetry  all  along  our  lines,  whereon 
Capt.  Kane,  he  arouseth  him  with  an  murderous 
oath  and  buckles  to  him  his  sword  and  so  strideth 
out  into  the  black  rain  fall  and  I  after  him  with 
my  carabine  ready  in  mine  hands  to  shoot.  So 
reached  the  advance  line  and  there  took  my  post 
in  the  water,  with  shots  into  the  dark  now  and 
anon  till  the  morrow  came  and  were  called  off  by 
a  bugle,  the  Spaniard  his  white  flag  still  flying  and 
all  a  horrid  mistake  wherefrom  three  dead  in  our 
lines  and  many  more  wounded. 

July  roth. —  This  morning  took  mine  oath  as  a 
souldier  and  was  mustered  into  the  ranks  for  one 
of  Colonell  Roosevelt's  troopers.  Capt.  Kane 
he  asketh  me  whether  I  would  still  withdraw 
afore  mine  taking  of  the  oath,  but  on  my  telling 
him  nay,  gripped  me  once  more  by  the  hand  and 
then  bid  me  go  forth  to  forage  for  a  blanket, 
shoen  and  all  else  I  might  need.  Master  Herndon 
he  did  depart  in  haste  to-day,  driving  away  in  a 
wagon  with  the  surgeon's  mate  f  and  a  big  trooper, 
Cook  by  name,  an  Englishman  they  say,  who  did 
loose  his  commission  as  one  of  the  Queen  her 
officers  for  raiding  into  the  South  Afric  land  of  the 
Holland  Burghers  at  Sir  Cecil  Rhodes'  behest. J 

July  nth. —  More  parleys  and  palavers,  some 
saying  how  the  Archbishop  of  Santiago  would 
issue  forth  at  the  head  of  all  his  clergy  and  holy 
sisters,  the  which  made  our  troopers  what  had 
seen  no  pettie  coat  in  many  a  day  strayn  their 
eyes  incontinently  for  to  behold  the  nuns  but  no 
avayl.  Some  shots  sounding  this  way  and  that 
but  none  knew  whether  it  be  that  the  Spaniards 
did  fire  them  or  mayhap  the  Illinoy  volunteers 
even  this  day  come  up  to  the  front.  Jufy 

•(•Assistant  Surgeon  Dr.  Donaldson,  ill  with  yellow 
fever. 

J  Reference  to  the  Jamieson  rzi&Jiasco  in  1897. 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

July  1 2th. —  'Tis  settled  we  are  to  have  more 
truce  and  lasting  armistice ;  old  Gen'l  Wheeler 
parleying  with  the  Spanish  Generalissimo  the  best 
part  of  this  day.  Yet  some  say  how  Gen'l 
Miles,  our  chief  captain  be  landed  in  Cuba  to 
come  forward  and  take  all  settlements  from  the 
hands  of  Gen'l  Shafter. 

July  ijtb. —  This  day  sundry  poor  women  and 
their  babes  came  draggling  into  our  lines,  sick  to 
death  with  fever  and  hunger.  One  I  saw  stretched 
prone  on  the  grass  to  weak  to  lift  her  head,  and 
was  in  pittie  moved  to  give  her  all  of  my  ration 
for  sustenance. 

July  ijtb. —  We  lying  in  the  trenches  all  day, 
heartsick  and  weary  of  this  armistice,  Craig 
Wardsworth,§  commanding  the  guard,  doth  stretch 
him  out  to  rest.  Eftsoons,  the  whilst  I  be  clean 
ing  the  gun  locke  of  my  carabine-arquebuse, 
Colonell  Roosevelt  cometh  striding  along  the  length 
of  our  trench,  and  with  him  his  friend  Doctor 
Wood, 1 1  our  erstwhile  colonell  but  now  charged 
with  command  of  all  our  brigade.  Mr.  Roosevelt 
he  presenteth  me  to  Mr.  Wood,  who  doth  take 
me  kindly  by  the  hand  with  all  manner  of  ques 
tions  on  mine  eye  sight,  I  wearing  a  binockle 
this  day,  and  if  my  stomach  take  aught  of  con 
tentment  in  this  our  daily  fare  of  sailors'  hard 
tack  and  rashers  of  bacon.  To  this  I  gave  what 
civill  answer  I  could,  the  meanwhile  thrusting 
some  dry  clods  of  earth  at  Master  Craig,  to  arouse 
him  where  he  lay  concealed  in  the  bushes.  Anon 
the  Colonell  doth  espy  him,  aroused  and  rubbing 
his  eyen,  and  doth  forthwith  accost  him  in  a  loud 
voice  with  enquiry  what  he  be  doing  there,  but 
Craig 

§  Noted  steeple-chase  rider  and  polo  player. 
||  General     Leonard     Wood,    subsequently    appointed 
military  governor  of  Santiago  de  Cuba. 
[,06] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

Craig  did  turn  away  aught  of  wrath,  with  civill 
reply  how  he  had  but  been  resting  in  the  shade, 
and  so  all  were  content,  Craig  Wadsworth 
fearthsome  for  a  while  lest  he  loose  all  chance  for 
promotion.  At  even  tide  cometh  the  sound  of 
many  cheers  and  incontinent  noyse  amongst  the 
men,  and  we  being  relieved  from  our  guard  in  the 
trenches  did  hasten  thitherward  and  so  arrived 
there  within  good  time  to  behold  generalissimo 
Miles  riding  the  length  of  the  lines,  with  officers 
and  troopers  clattering  after  for  his  escort. 

July  i6th. —  This  day  it  be  prophesied  by  all 
how  a  lasting  armistice  be  surely  brewing,  but  we 
kept  none  the  less  at  guard  in  the  earthworks. 
By  noon  of  the  day,  we  having  come  off  guard,  I 
and  all  others  but  those  out  of  sight  in  theyr  car 
bine  pits  did  behold  the  sorriest  sight  that  ever  I 
did  see.  All  ye  poor  wommen,  old  grand  sires  and 
little  babes  that  had  fled  the  city  of  Santiago  what 
time  we  threatened  to  assail  the  stronghold  now 
forsooth  came  wandering  back  over  the  same  road, 
eager  to  find  once  more  theyr  homesteads,  having 
encountered  naught  but  misery,  hunger  and  yellow 
jack  fever  the  whilst  they  lay  in  the  fields  about 
Caney  awakening  the  end  of  all.  There  were 
mothers  with  littil  babes  suckling  at  theyr  empty 
breasts,  tottering  old  cronies  and  Spanish  gentle 
folk  of  haughty  mien  clad  in  rags  and  foot-sore 
with  here  and  there  a  stately  coach  of  the  might 
iest  of  the  land  blundering  through  the  thick 
throng.  For  a  small  bite  of  rough  sailors'  hard 
tack  held  on  high  all  these  poor  folk  would 
scramble  hither  and  thither  falling  over  one  an 
other  in  their  pityful  plight,  and  many  a  proud 
morena  glad  to  yield  her  honesty  by  the  road  side  for 
fair  promises  of  a  meal  from  a  trooper's  haversack, 
t  this  sorry  company  was  thronging  the 

highway 

[,07] 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

highway  to  Santiago,  encumbring  our  lines  from 
the  rear  and  stryving  to  enter  the  Spanish  defences 
over  a  cunning  spiked  wire  entanglement  where 
was  to  be  our  pitfall  should  our  bugles  blow  to  the 
assault,  our  High  Commissioners  on  either  side 
were  deep  in  parley  under  the  self  same  high  saiba 
tree  how  now  to  deal  with  these  poor  famished 
folk  that  would  not  be  denied.  So  in  the  end,  the 
Spaniards,  since  the  loss  of  theyr  fleet  having  given 
up  all  hope  of  succour  from  without,  did  grudg 
ingly  promise  to  yield  themselves  on  the  morrow, 
and  by  this  theyr  action  cleared  the  way  for  the 
refugees  to  enter  the  city.  All  that  day  and  late 
into  the  night  did  these  poor  folk  stagger  on  their 
way  through  our  lines,  some  falling  in  theyr 
tracks  and  giving  up  the  ghost  by  the  way  side,  fit 
to  make  our  hearts  burst  asunder. 

July  ijth. —  This  morn,  at  sun  rise,  Capt.  Kane 
espying  me  where  I  sate  in  the  wet  grass  feasting 
mine  eyes  on  the  fair  sight  of  all  this  valley  and 
hills  clustered  with  king  palms  and  high  cocoanut- 
trees,  bids  me  arise  and  take  the  guard  where  the 
road  from  Caney  maketh  a  cut  through  our  earth 
works  with  a  sharp  turn  into  the  valley  beyond  sun 
dering  our  firing  line  from  the  fore  front  of  the  foe. 
^| '  Tis  the  last  stand,  quoth  Captain  Kane,  of  the 
refugee  women  'fore  they  enter  the  Spaniard  his  lines, 
and  thou  must  needs  keep  strict  vigil  over  all  that 
enter  lest  some  mishap  befall.  Bid  a  halt  to  all  able- 
bodied  men  be  they  souldiers  or  otherwise  and  disarm 
them  that  bear  aught  of  arms.  So  speaking,  he 
went  his  way  whilst  I  taking  up  my  arms  and 
accoutrements  betook  myself  to  the  mess  tent  and 
there  filled  mine  haversack  with  all  hard  tack  and 
eatables  mine  hands  could  lay  on,  knowing  full 
well  how  every  crumb  were  needful  to  still  the 
mouths  of  them  trudging  theyr  way  homeward. 

In 
[,o8] 


OF 


In  sooth  scarce  had  I  taken  my  stand  under  a 
great  mango  tree  but  starved  women  and  children 
clustered  about  me,  lifting  up  theyr  hands  in 
prayer  for  food,  so  that  giving  but  the  smallest 
morsel  to  each  yet  my  store  lasted  not  even  a  bare 
half  hour  and  was  shamed  in  the  end  by  behold 
ing  two  fair  senoritas  grovelling  at  my  feet  to 
scratch  up  the  crumbs  that  fell  from  my  haver 
sack.  So  was  I  sore  distressed,  and  sad  in  my 
heart  at  such  pityful  misery  of  the  warres,  the 
sick  and  dying  thrusting  themselves  upon  the 
ground  in  the  midst  of  the  road,  nor  would  stir 
even  to  the  shade  of  the  roadside  despite  my  stern 
commands  or  fair  entreaties.  Anon  cometh  a  sleek 
well  caparisoned  youth  astride  a  noble  courser,  with 
ivory  handled  dag  in  his  belt  and  sword  hanging 
by  his  side. 

Tf  Him  did  I  disarm,  even  to  his  poke  pistolet  and 
poignard  and  when  he  would  fain  make  outcry 
bid  him  harshly  dismount  and  he  doing  so  with 
exceeding  ill  grace,  I  did  lift  into  his  saddle  a 
poore  old  man  standing  by  and  his  grandchild  in 
arms,  whereat  the  Cubano  gentleman  maketh  a 
damned  black  face. 

^[  Anon  cometh  the  Cubanos  theyr  generalissimo 
Calixtus  Garcia  escorted  by  his  staff  of  merry 
gentlemen  and  could  scarce  beleave  theyr  eares 
when  I  bade  them  halt,  and  did  acquaint  them 
with  my  order  to  let  no  armed  men  pass  unchal 
lenged.  The  Generalissimo  his  aide-de-camp  mak 
ing  high  remonstrance  in  the  French  tongue,  I 
was  in  the  end  coaxed  to  let  a  souldier  bear  his 
entreaties  to  our  headquarters  but  eftsoons  the 
trooper  returneth  with  an  ill  writ  screed  the  which 
bore  plain  orders  signed  by  the  Generalissimo  of 
our  own  forces  forbidding  all  and  any  Cubano 
officers  from  entry  into  the  fallen  citye.  Thereat 

the 
[109] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

the  Cubano  generalissimo  waxed  exceeding  wroth 
and  fell  to  cursing  in  the  Iberian  tongue,  the 
young  hot  bloods  amongst  them  fingering  their 
machetes  which  is  the  Castilian  for  claymore, 
but  I  stood  stock  still  with  my  derringer  full 
loaded  and  primed  till  the  Generalissimo  himself 
putteth  an  end  to  our  parley,  of  a  suddain  wheel 
ing  his  horse  about  and  riding  off  a-galopp  thither 
whence  he  had  come  his  gentlemen  following 
after  him  hot  spur.  By  this  time  was  the  ground 
all  around  me  strewn  with  forlorn  and  ayling 
refugee  folk,  and  I  at  a  losse  how  to  deal  with 
them,  and  so  feigning  high  anger  the  better  to  veil 
mine  exceeding  pitye  for  them,  bade  them  all 
begone  and  so  cleared  the  way  for  more  to  come. 
More  heart  wrenching  sights  did  I  never  before 
behold,  nor  ever  will  agayn  if  God  but  suffer  me 
to  depart  from  this  accursed  soyl.  One  small  lad 
there  was,  nigh  of  the  age  of  mine  own  boy  at 
home,  what  was  left  lonely  and  forlorn  in  the 
midst  of  the  throng,  who  on  my  enquiries  in  the 
Castilian  tongue,  did  reveal  to  me  midst  sobbes  and 
teares  how  he  be  indeed  an  orphaned  child,  his 
Cubano  father  shot  to  death  in  the  warres  and  his 
mother  now  fallen  prey  to  yellow  fever  and  yes- 
tereen  died  of  it.  Him  could  I  no  wise  shake  off, 
the  lad  clinging  to  me  for  alle  my  sterne  wordes 
and  grim  visage  and  so  sent  him  privily  to  my 
tent  mate  with  a  secret  message  from  me  to  give 
the  lad  food  and  drink  and  treat  him  kindly  for 
mine  own  sake,  as  much  as  might  be  in  his  power 
which  God  knows  be  scant  enough. 
*[j  The  sunne  having  risen  nigh  unto  high  noon, 
and  very  hot,  I  did  fall  to  counting  my  stock  of 
looted  arms  heaped  up  by  the  roadside,  knowing 
how  the  time  be  ripe  for  the  new  guard  to  releave 
me.  Whilst  still  fingering  one  and  another  of  the 

passing 

[MO] 


P  epys's  Gbost 

passing  strange  weapons  fallen  to  my  lot,  I  did 
espy  a  horseman  spurring  down  the  road,  on  a 
nimble  nag,  and  so  ran  out  into  the  highway  pist- 
olet  in  hand  lest  he  dash  me  bye  unawares  and  so 
brought  him  to  a  halt  at  the  very  point  of  mine 
arquebuse.  Then  lo  and  behold  I  found  him  to 
be  mine  old  friend  Master  Armstrong  *  and  he 
did  blaze  forth  in  wrath  when  I  bid  him  surrender 
his  dag  to  me,  but  found  to  his  sorrow  there  was 
no  help  to  it,  though  God  knoweth  'twas  a  bitter 
hour  when  I  must  put  such  shame  on  mine  own 
friend,  albeit  I  did  promise  him  how  he  should 
have  his  pistolet  returned  to  him  if  perchance  he 
agayne  ride  my  way,  and  forebore  to  search  him  for 
other  armes,  nor  feigned  to  see  the  pistol  holster 
behind  his  back.  Master  Armstrong,  putting  a 
sweet  face  on  a  sour  duty  doth  tell  me  how  he 
hath  it  straight  from  the  Sign  of  the  Sunne, 
whomfore  he  writheth  his  despatches,  how  the 
Spaniard  will  yield  him  and  all  his  forces  to  us 
this  very  noon,  and  so  explaineth  his  haste  to  spur 
away  to  behold  the  surrender. 
^fSo  he  rideth  his  way,  leaving  his  pistolet  in 
mine  hands,  and  I  beholding  the  newe  officer  of  the 
guard  come  to  releave  me  do  run  to  meet  him 
half  way,  and  briefly  giving  him  countersign  and 
pass  word,  and  what  were  the  orders  of  the  day. 
So  set  off  hot  foot  to  find  mine  appointed  place  in 
the  ranks  on  the  very  top  of  our  hill,  what  we 
stormed  from  the  Spaniards,  thence  to  behold  the 
Castille  ensign  over  theyr  stronghold  below  us 
give  way  to  our  own  flag.  Thereat  arose  a 
mighty  cheer  and  hallooing  from  our  men,  nath- 
less  Colonell  Roosevelt  had  earnestly  ordered  us 
to  keep  silence,  yet  we  made  so  loud  a  noyse  he 
was  perforce  dragged  into  it  himself,  wayving  his 

battered 

*  See  previous  note  concerning  this  war  correspondent. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

battered  bonnet  aloft  even  like  unto  the  rest  of  us, 
and  thus  did  I  come  to  loose  mine  only  smokyng 
pipe  which  I  carried  stuck  into  mine  hat  brim,  in 
sooth  an  irreparable  loss  to  me. 

July  i8tk. —  Up  betimes,  an  order  having  gone 
forth  from  Gen'l  Wood,  our  old  time  Colonell,  to 
march  high  up  into  the  hills,  there  to  be  the  safer 
from  all  fevers,  and  temptings  of  loot  in  the  con 
quered  town  now  lying  open  before  us.  So  amidst 
many  sore  grumblings  from  the  men,  we  did 
march  our  long  way  back  along  the  trail  trodden 
but  erstwhile.  So  made  our  weary  way  through 
El  Caney  and  close  under  the  hill  of  Saint 
Michael,  where  Capt.  Capron,  his  gunners,  made 
theyr  last  stand  untill  the  hour  of  theyr  gallant 
captain  his  death,  him  what  was  the  father  of  our 
own  brave  captain  Capron  what  fell  righting  at 
the  fore  front  of  our  troopers  in  the  batelle  under 
the  Guasimas  trees.  Here  did  we  halt  at  last  and 
pitch  our  camp,  Lieutenant  Tiffany  shewing  me 
how  to  drive  home  my  tent  pegs  and  pull  all  taught 
and  tight. 

Lord's  Day. —  This  morning  we  all  lined  up  for 
to  shew  whether  our  swordes  and  arquebuses  be 
not  rusted  nor  bended  out  of  theyr  right  shape, 
Colonell  Roosevelt  cocking  his  binockled  eye  into 
the  muzzle  of  even  the  smallest  pistolet  and  did 
think  he  would  knock  all  breath  from  my  bodye 
what  time  he  thrust  my  accoutrements  back  into 
mine  arms  roughly  and  agaynst  my  chest.  Whilst 
I  be  still  fetching  for  breath,  Colonell  Roosevelt 
he  beholdeth  my  new  found  troopers  togs  and 
doth  warm  the  cockles  of  mine  heart  by  his  open 
praise  for  my  rough  readiness.  When  all  was 
over  and  we  returned  to  our  quarters  Mr.  Brown, f 

the 

-j-The  Rev.  Dr.  Brown,  regimental  chaplain  to  First 
Volunteer  Cavalry. 

[i,  a] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

the  parson,  holdeth  a  service  on  the  hill  side 
where  the  Spaniard  his  big  guns  made  theyr  stand, 
and  there  did  make  a  long  prayer  for  them  of  us 
what  had  been  shot  and  others  that  lay  buried  on 
the  field  of  battalle,  saying  how  no  good  troopers 
could  wish  a  better  death.  Amen,  amen  said  each 
of  the  Rough  Riders,  even  them  amongst  us  that 
believe  neither  in  the  Lord  his  Heaven  above  nor 
the  Devil's  own  Hell  below.  After  service  be 
over,  Colonell  Roosevelt  espying  me  biddeth  me 
to  his  own  pavillion  and  there  tells  me  how  he 
would  fain  senTd  me  to  the  headquarters  of  Joe 
Wheeler,  our  foremost  generalissimo,  him  having 
sore  need  of  the  services  of  a  gentleman  on  his 
staff  what  could  ayd  him  in  the  writying  of  his 
report  to  the  Government  and  a  book  he  hath  in 
mind  thereon. J 

TfSo  Mr.  Roosevelt  having  give  me  leave  to  de 
part  from  our  own  regiment  for  the  nonce,  I  did 
report  incontinently  at  our  General  Headquarters, 
and  there  found  the  generalissimo  bending  sore 
troubled  over  the  bedside  of  his  own  son  sick  unto 
death  from  fever-ague.  Eftsoon,  he  being  sum 
moned  from  his  tent  to  parley  with  the  King  of 
Spain  his  Commissioners,  our  old  general  with  a 
shake  in  his  voice  doth  entreat  me  to  watch 
well  over  his  son,  the  which  I  did,  sitting  all 
day  at  the  dying  man's  bedside,  thrusting  a  green 
palm  leaf  hither  and  thither  over  his  blenched 
face  the  better  to  ward  off  all  mettlesome  gnats 
and  tarrantules. 

^f'Twas  late  of  the  night  that  the  generalissimo 
did  return  and  rejoiceth  greatly  to  find  his  lad 
breathing  better  and  asleep.  So  bid  me  sup  with 
him  and  the  other  gentlemen  of  his  staff,  but  I 

would 

J  History  of  Spanish  War,   later  issued  by  Wolfe  & 
Lamson,  of  Boston. 

["3] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

would  not  have  it  and  so  supped  apart  with  Mr. 
Leonhardus  Wilson, §  his  privy  clerk. 

Monday. —  Up  betimes  and  hearing  the  sentry 
call  halt  upon  the  road,  hastily  hied  me  thither 
and  there  found  the  generalissimo's  own  daughter, 
on  an  army  horse  and  riding  a  trooper's  saddle  as 
it  were  her  own,  and  so  conducted  her  through 
the  high  grass  to  our  headquarters  pavillion. 
'Twas  in  sooth  a  moving  sight  to  behold  the  girl 
fling  herself  over  her  sick  brother  to  nurse  and  pet 
him  in  such  comely  manner  as  be  known  to 
woman  only.  Her  father,  knowing  naught  of 
his  daughter  her  bold  venture  into  Cuba  would 
fain  chide  her  for  her  madcap  prank  but  she  made 
short  shrift  of  all  remonstrance  telling  him  how 
she  had  risked  all  on  hearing  a  common  report  of 
her  father  his  sore  illness  on  the  first  day  of  bat- 
telle  what  time  he  did  refuse  to  be  colly-moddled  in 
any  field  spittal,  but  led  on  our  troops,  cheering  to 
victory  though  ayling  privily,  nigh  unto  death.  So 
did  this  brave  and  fair  mayd  spend  all  day  long  with 
us,  till  dusk  falling  her  father  bid  her  depart  from 
the  camp,  nor  would  give  ear  to  her  hot  entreaties 
to  spend  the  night  at  her  brother's  bedside.  So 
had  a  horse  made  ready  for  her,  and  giving  her  a 
lift  in  her  saddle,  I  did  mount  another  by  her  side, 
and  so  put  spurs  to  our  horses  and  rode  from 
camp  out  into  the  night,  General  Wheeler  shout 
ing  after  me  to  give  good  heed  to  his  daughter. 
TfVerily  'twas  a  sweet  ride  through  the  forests  and 
fields,  over  the  old  Caney  road,  the  moon  shining 
brightly  over  our  heads  and  much  prettie  prattle 
from  the  girl,  till  in  the  end  she  doth  ask  me  to 
sing  her  a  true  souldier's  song.  So  sang  aloud 
mine  own  song. Black 

§  Leonard  Wilson,  private  secretary  to  General 
Wheeler  and  author  of  his  biography,  subsequently  pub 
lished  under  the  title  Fighting  Joe. 

["4] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

Black  was  the  night  when  the  Spaniards  blew  our  sailors  up 

And  the  cry  arose  Remember  the  Maine  ; 
Then  came  a  call  for  men  to  do  the  dagoes  up, 

So  we  left  the  ranch  and  went  to  war  with  Spain. 

Rough  Riders  were  we  from  the  West, 

Green  Tenderfeet  the  rest, 

Of  mounted  men  the  best ; 
Rallied  to  the  flag  at  Roosevelt's  behest 

To  carve  our  way  to  glorye. 

Our  dozen  troops  were  mustered  in  at  San  Anton, 

In  many  ways  we  shone, 

By  virtue  not  alone; 
As  Teddy* s  Terrors  some  of  us  were  known 

Riding  for  a  fall  to  glorye. 

When  the  bugle  blew  we  gaily  put  to  sea, 

Oh,  what  a  ship  was  she! 

As  foul  as  foul  could  be; 
Rotten  was  the  beef  and  sick  as  dogs  were  we 

Sailing  on  our  way  to  Cuba. 

Our  flag  in  Cuba  was  the  first  to  fly, 
Onward  was  the  cry, 
No  time  to  say  goodbye; 
First  were  we  to  fight,  and  first  of  all  to  die, 
First  to  carve  our  way  to  glorye. 

When  the  Spanish  shells  and  shrapnel  burst, 

Our  losses  were  the  worst, 

The  chaplain  even  cursed  ; 
Charge!  cried  Teddy  Roosevelt,  and  charged  the  first, 

To  carve  our  way  to  glorye. 

Entrenched  before  Santiago  long  we  lay, 

Drenched  by  night  and  day, 

Sore  at  the  delay. 
In  our  rear  the  yellow  fever  raged  at  Siboney 

To  cheat  us  out  of  glorye. 

At  last  no  single  Spaniard  was  left  to  run, 

Our  duty  it  was  done, 

The  Cuban  war  was  won  ; 
Dead  and  living,  every  single  one 

Had  carved  his  way  to  glorye. 

Thus 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

*ft  Thus  passed  the  time  in  pleasaunce,  and  light 
talke  on  our  long  ride  thro  the  night,  but  nath- 
less  I  did  breathe  more  easy  to  reach  the  gates  of 
Santiago  town,  where  was  to  be  seen  a  most  hor 
rid  entanglement  of  spiked  wires  and  pit-falls  dug 
crosswise  in  the  streets  for  to  stay  our  promised 
assault  uponne  ye  towne.  There,  giving  pass 
word  and  countersign  we  did  safely  enter  into  the 
coal  black  citye  and  riding  straight  to  Mistress 
Clara  Barton  her  spittal  house  I  did  deliver  the 
girl  unto  her  with  a  prettye  nod  and  handshake 
from  her  in  lieu  of  parting,  and  promises  withal  to 
serve  for  her  escort  on  the  morrow. 

July  twenty-third. —  Up  betimes  in  the  upper 
hall  of  the  Governeur-General's  palace,  where  our 
Gen'l  Wood  holdeth  sway  now  and  gave  his 
equerry,  the  Scotsman  what  served  as  a  cornet 
in  our  command, ||  a  pouch  of  tobacky  from  our 
Virginias  for  his  pains  anent  my  horses,  and  so 
sallied  forth  to  the  Sign  of  our  Ladye  Venus  *  and 
there  took  a  goodly  morning  draught  of  Spanish 
Xeres  wine  the  first  that  ever  my  lippes  have 
tasted  since  I  be  entered  into  this  warre. 
^|  Thence  up  and  down  the  narrow  alleys  and  by 
ways  till  I  came  to  the  portal  of  Mistress  Barton's 
spittal  and  there  whacked  merrily  upon  the  oaken 
door  with  a  brace  of  brazen  knockers  until  a  side 
door  of  a  suddain  opening  Mistress  Wheeler  trips 
forth  and  so  roamed  round  and  about  through  the 
strange  town,  she  making  sundry  and  dyvers  pict 
ures  till  in  the  end,  forsooth  she  must  have  it  to 
make  a  counterfeit  presentment  of  mine  own  self 
sending  forth  despatches  through  the  Lion's  mouth 

that 

1 1  Sergeant  Burns,  of  Troop  A  of  the  Rough  Riders. 
*  The  famous  Cafe  Venus,  on  the  Plaza  des  Armas, 
in  Santiago  de  Cuba. 

[,,6] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

that  serveth  for  a  mail  box  f  for  Spanish  packets. 
So  returned  to  the  spittal  house  on  the  way  thither 
lingering  over  a  monstrous  big  cleft  riven  in  the 
market  place  by  one  of  Commodore  Schley's  can 
non  balls  and  likewise  to  cast  a  glance  into  the 
bull  ring,  where  the  Spanish  and  Cubano  people 
were  wont  to  do  theyr  bull  baiting. 
^|  Mistress  Barton  driving  through  the  citye  meet 
ing  us  doth  'light  and  taketh  Mistress  Wheeler 
away  with  her,  and  so  I  with  much  inward  sorrow 
do  haste  me  back  to  the  Palace  and  reporting  my 
self  there  to  Gen'l  Wood,  by  reason  of  mine 
overlong  dalliance  once  more  took  horse  and  hot 
spur  out  of  the  citye  and  upwards  into  the  country 
to  our  bivouac  in  the  hills.  So  rode  into  camp 
nigh  midnight,  and  straight  to  the  Generalissimo 
his  tent,  he  rysing  from  his  couch  to  hear  newes 
of  his  daughter's  safe  housing  in  Santiago  town, 
nor  never  spake  one  word  of  reproof  for  mine 
overlate  return. 

Tuesday. —  To  the  general  his  headquarters,  at 
bugle  call,  and  there  did  help  Gen'l  Wheeler  with 
his  writyng  of  the  story  of  the  war  as  to  his  part 
in  it,  but  found  his  way  of  telling  it  highly  dull 
and  dry  with  overmuch  repeating  of  his  sundry 
reports  to  Gen'l  Shafter  and  the  War  Office  and 
so  mighty  releaved  when  the  generalissimo  hearing 
how  the  new  summer  cloathes  for  our  troopers  be 
landed  in  Santiago  harbour  bids  me  to  horse  with 
an  written  order  for  to  find  and  fetch  the  cloathes 
to  camp ;  nor  to  forget  to  bring  him  an  officer's 
toggery  for  himself  to  wear,  his  old  cloathes  being 

sadly 

"j~  This  photograph,  taken  by  Miss  Wheeler,  was  sub 
sequently  reproduced  in  the  pages  of  Collier's  Weekly 
and  Lieutenant  King's  History  of  the  Spanish-American 
War  over  the  caption  "  An  American  War  Correspond 
ent  in  Santiago." 


Pepys's  Ghost 

sadly  soy  led  and  tattered  shameful  to  behold. 
Thereat  am  I  glad  in  mine  heart,  for  God  knows 
how  bitterly  we  do  need  these  cloathes,  most  of 
our  troopers  having  naught  to  clothe  them  in  but 
their  brown  horse  breeches  and  our  shirtes,  all 
tattered  and  torn  nor  do  our  leaders  go  better 
cloathed.  So  bestrode  a  new  found  Spanish  cap 
tain's  horse  that  hath  fallen  to  my  lot,  and  rode 
forth  on  mine  errand,  meeting  sundry  heavy  guns 
on  the  way  theyr  gunners  strayning  and  stryving 
to  haul  them  over  the  hill  sides  all  slippery  with 
mud.  Entering  into  Santiago  town,  the  whilst  a 
heavy  rain  be  falling  that  wetted  me  to  my  very 
skin,  mine  horse  all  a'stumble  over  the  slippery 
cobble  stones.  Then  did  I  ride  about  the  city 
hither  and  thither,  searching  every  where  for 
Colonell  Humphreys,  the  high  chief  quartermaster, 
and  at  last  found  him  in  angry  argument  with 
some  foot  captains  in  the  citye  play  house,  where 
rough  souldiers  now  lie  aroost  on  the  selfsame 
boards  where  Adelina  Patti,  our  most  incompa 
rable  sweet  singer  was  first  heard  to  sing,  her  first 
publick  song  in  the  days  when  Will  Tweed  *  fled 
hither  with  his  ill  gotten  gains.  Colonell  Hum 
phreys,  so  soon  as  he  clapps  eyes  on  my  written 
order  doth  bitterly  laugh  aloud,  and  bidding  me 
follow  him  leadeth  me  into  an  open  yard  back  of 
the  British  Councillor  his  house,  where  a  heavy 
ship  grenade  pierced  a  deep  hole  in  the  street,  and 
there  pointed  to  many  thousands  of  boxes  all  filled 
high 

*  William  E.  Tweed,  a  New  York  chairmaker  and 
volunteer  fireman,  who  became  leader  of  Tammany  Hall 
and  of  the  corrupt  ring  of  politicians  who  ruled  New 
York  in  the  years  after  the  Civil  War.  After  his  trial 
and  conviction  for  theft  he  fled  to  Santiago  de  Cuba,  and 
thence  to  Spain,  where  he  was  once  more  apprehended 
and  returned  to  prison. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

high  with  army  clothing  of  cheap  yellow  duck 
cloth,  and  shewed  me  an  hundred  blackamoors  or 
more  hard  at  work  unloading  more  boxes  from  the 
hold  of  a  ship.  Prithee  bow  wouldst  carry  all  these 
cloathes  on  the  back  of  one  small  horse  saith  Colonell 
Humphreys,  or  where  wouldst  borrow  enough  pack 
mules  to  convey  so  large  a  load.  Afay,  my  son,  thou 
must  needs  wait,  and  so  must  thy  master  for  better 
means  be  at  hand  to  do  Gen1 1  Wheeler  his  bidding* 
Then  did  I  beseech  him  to  yield  unto  me  but  one 
coat  and  pair  of  breeches,  for  Gen'l  Wheeler  his 
privy  use,  lest,J  ride  back  empty  handed,  but 
could  no  wise  prevayl  upon  him  and  so  came 
away  highly  wroth  at  such  miscarriage  of  mine 
errand. 

^[To  the  palace  and  there  found  one  of  our 
troopers  what  goes  by  the  name  of  San  Antonio 
standing  by  the  bridle  of  Colonell  Roosevelt  his 
horse  with  a  baker's  dozen  of  other  horses 
watched  over  by  two  of  our  tamed  red  men 
from  the  Indian  land  brought  hither  with  the 
Colonell  his  staff.  Within  the  doorway  stands 
Lieutenant  Tiffany,  who  beholding  me  doth 
straightway  bid  me  dine  with  him  at  the  sign 
of  Our  Lady  Venus  across  the  way  whereto  I 
gladly  said  him  yea.  In  the  privy  council  cham 
ber  stood  Gen'l  Wood  in  deep  converse  with 
Colonell  Roosevelt,  and  so  'twas  laid  before  them 
how  I  was  foyled  of  mine  errand. 
^  "Twill  never  do  quoth  Mr.  Roosevelt  our  men 
must  get  some  raiment  on  theyr  backs  and  that  soon. 
And  so  after  some  wordes  Gen'l  Wood  sits  him 
down  and  writeth  out  an  order  how  Gen'l 
Wheeler  his  newe  clothes  should  be  yielded  to  me 
forthwith  and  the  other  jerkins  to  follow  whereon 
Colonell  Roosevelt  bids  me  make  haste  to  deliver 
the  paper  to  Colonell  Humphreys  on  the  instant. 

Take 


Pepys's  Gbost 

^f  Take  horse  and  ride  saith  he,  whereat  I  made 
answer,  how  can  I  ride,  without  any  horse,  mine  own 
horse  having  been  left  at  the  blacksmith's  for  to 
be  shoed  anew. 

^f  Take  one  of  our  horses  before  the  doorway  !  saith 
Mr.  Roosevelt,  and  so  I  went  forth,  and  finding 
none  left  to  watch  the  horses  but  a  small  Cubano 
lad,  I  did  mount  upon  the  Colonell  his  own 
courser,  telling  the  boy  as  best  I  might  in  the 
Spanish  lingo  that  all  was  well.  So  put  spur  to 
his  flanks  and  guiding  him  straight  down  the  steep 
alley  to  the  wharf,  rode  boldly  into  Colonell 
Humphreys  his  quarters  and  shewing  him  my 
warrant  from  the  Governour  General  put  forward 
a  stiff  demand  for  Mr.  Wheeler  his  cloathes  and 
soon  obtayned  what  I  wanted  without  further  ado. 
So  slung  my  pack  across  the  saddle  pummel 
and  rode  straight  for  the  palace  agayn,  and  had 
nigh  reached  it,  when  Lieut.  Tiffany  of  a  suddain 
falls  into  my  bridle  and  demandeth  hotly  how  the 
devil  I  durst  ride  away  on  the  Colonell  his 
charger,  whom  all  are  now  seeking  for  lost.  San 
Antonio,  likewise,  shaketh  his  fist  at  me,  and  so 
dismounted,  and  stepping  before  the  Colonell,  did 
clearly  state  mine  own  case  to  him,  how  he  had 
bid  me  ride  the  horse  himself,  and  duly  receaved 
his  full  pardon,  he  saying  how  it  be  plainly  San 
Antonio  his  fault,  whereat  the  trooper  cast  me  a 
black  look  full  of  hate,  but  I  made  fain  to  heed 
it  not.  So  off  with  Lieut.  Tiffany  and  Ser 
geant  Bull,  of  our  regiment,  for  a  merry  meal  at 
the  Lady  Venus  hostelry  where  eftsoons  Capt. 
Luna  did  join  us,  and  made  a  welcome  guest 
in  sooth  knowing  how  to  put  forward  our  de 
mands  for  more  meat  and  drink  in  choice  Cas- 
tilian  lingo.  So  feasted  our  best  from  a  clean 
linnen  cloth  and  burnished  plate  and  cutlery,  till 

the 

[120] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

the  bugles  sounding  in  the  plaza,  we  to  horse 
again,  after  a  sorry  reckoning  with  the  scoundrel 
landlord,  he  demanding  more  than  ever  was  his 
just  due.  This  done  we  in  all  haste  after  Colo- 
nell  Roosevelt  his  calvacade  and  so  reached  camp 
nigh  unto  midnight. 

Wednesday. —  Up  at  call  of  reveille  and  snatch 
ing  up  my  tin  cup  and  turtle-back  kit  hied  me  to 
the  mess  fire  there  to  get  a  snack  wherewith  to 
break  fast.  Here  were  gathered  around  the  fire 
all  of  our  own  troop  amongst  them  San  Antonio, 
who  at  sight  o'  me  must  needs  revile  me  in  harsh 
and  bitter  wordes  for  a  horse  thief  and  marplot 
coward.  At  such  wordes  I  waxed  wroth  and 
challenged  him  forth  to  fight  me  as  best  he  might. 
Thereon  he  leadeth  the  way  from  camp  and  I  hot 
foot  after  him  with  doubling  up  of  my  two  fisti 
cuffs  for  the  fray  when  he  bending  low  at  his  dog 
tent  fetches  forth  his  carabine  and  loadeth  the 
piece  full  before  mine  very  eyes.  Quoth  I 
Wherefore  dost  need  thine  arquebuse  ? 
^f  Wherefore  ?  saith  he,  'tis  in  sooth  to  shoot  thee. 
^f  Wouldst  kill  me  unarmed?  quoth  I,  fearing  the 
worst  within  mine  heart,  whereat  he  made  answer, 
Kill  thee,  my  lad,  troth  'tis  mine  intent  to  shoot  thee 
plumb  full  of  holes. 

^f  Such  evil  talk  falling  on  mine  ears  I  did  make  a 
mighty  leap  forward  to  where  my  dag  lay  hidden 
in  his  holster  under  my  tent  and  drawing  the 
pistolet  forth,  turned  myself  nimbly  about  so  as  to 
aim  the  dag's  muzzle  straight  into  his  face. 
^j  Hands  up  !  quoth  I,  or  thou  beest  a  dead  man, 
whereat  he,  beholding  his  unholy  end  nigh  at  hand 
did  blench  and  casting  his  arquebuse  from  him 
lifted  both  his  handes  high  to  heavenward. 
^f  Behold  here  stood  San  Antonio  each  of  his 
handes  held  high  aloft,  and  I  at  a  loss  what  now 

to 

cur] 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

to  do,  and  so  stood  my  ground  holding  my  der 
ringer  straight  before  me. 

^|  Next  heard  I  Captain  Kane  his  voice  behind  me 
roaring  aloud  What  dost  mean,  man  ?  Prithee  how 
comest  to  disturb  all  our  peace  with  such  flourish  of 
armes?  Whom  dost  mean  to  bring  low  with  thy 
shooting  iron  ? 

^j  To  these  mocking  wordes  I  made  no  answer, 
but  surrendering  mine  armes  to  the  Captain  was 
forthwith  clapped  under  arrest,  and  a  like  lot  be 
fell  mine  enemy,  and  so  were  both  marched  off 
before  the  loaded  arquebuses  of  our  comrades  to 
the  mango  tree  beside  our  mess  tent  which  now 
did  service  for  an  open  gaol.  Then  did  my  fantasy 
harken  back  to  that  sweet  song  of  our  own 
cavalier  poet 

Stone  walls  do  not  a  prison  make 
Nor  iron  bars  a  cell. 

^j  Thus  lay  we  under  the  same  tree,  both  together 
drinking  gulps  out  of  mine  own  canteen,  and 
blewing  smoke  now  one  now  t'other  from  the 
bowl  of  San  Antonio's  backy  pipe,  and  so  were 
good  friends  agayn.  'Twas  best  in  sooth  to 
stand  one  by  t'other,  most  of  t'other  troopers 
turning  upon  us  with  wrathful  wordes,  cursing  us 
aloud  for  the  sore  need  of  standing  guard  over 
us  all  night,  when  they  had  rather  sleep  in  theyr 
pavilions,  and  so  turned  our  backs  on  them  for 
this  theyr  selfish  greed  for  naught  but  ease  and 
comfort.  Anon  cometh  our  Captain,  passing  the 
guard,  and  telleth  us  privily  how  we  shall  surely 
be  hailed  before  a  generall  drum  head  court  mar- 
tiall  much  to  his  exceeding  pains  and  sorrow. 
^f  On  the  morrow,  at  bugle  call,  Colonell  Roose 
velt,  hearing  of  our  sad  plight,  biddeth  us  both  be 
fore  him  and  asketh  of  each  his  storye.  San 

Antonio 


Pepys's  Ghost 

Antonio,  bidden  to  speak  first,  saith  Holy  Virgin 
Mary  what  could  I  fain  do  since  Mr.  Pepys  here  had 
ye  droppe  on  me.  Thereat  both  Colonel!  and  Cap 
tain  laughed  aloud  right  heartily. 
^[Then  quotha  Colonell  Roosevelt  What  say  ye 
to  that,  Mr.  Pepys,  whereat  I  made  answer: 
'Troth  I  cannot  gainsay  it  that  I  did  bid  Senor  San 
Antonio  fight  me,  but  so  God  help  me,  I  meaned  for  to 
fight  him  at  close  range,  and  he  did  misinterpret  mine 
intent  to  mean  a  fight  at  long  range. 
^f '  Tis  plain,  saith  Mr.  Roosevelt  to  Mr.  Kane 
that  these  two  cavaliers  should  be  no  longer  in  jeop 
ardy.  tcTwas  naught  but  an  inconsequent  misunder 
standing  twixt  two  Rough  Riders  and  so  let  us  go 
forth  from  him  as  free  men,  with  orders  to  have 
our  armes  given  agayn  to  us.  So  went  our  way 
blessing  him  for  as  wise  and  gentle  a  captain  as 
he  be  brave  in  the  fray.  Eftsoon  I  be  called 
to  Capt.  Kane  his  pavillion  and  he  sayeth  to  me 
privily,  how  in  faith  I  could  nowise  have  done 
elsewise  and  therewith  gives  me  back  my  der 
ringer.  Then  thanking  him  kindly  I  marvelled 
to  observe  how  the  derringer  was  all  unloaded, 
untill  our  cornet  coming  up  to  shake  me  by  mine 
hand  did  slip  into  it  all  my  bullets  what  he  had 
privily  unloaded  hoping  thereby  to  benefit  me  in 
the  eyes  of  our  judges  should  our  quarrel  have 
come  to  a  head  before  a  drum  head  court  martiall. 
Such  is  the  silent  friendship  of  good  men  in  need, 
nor  shall  I  never  forget  his  good  turn  done  to  me 
in  the  hour  of  my  distress. 

Last  day  of  the  Month. —  Summoned  to  Gener 
alissimo  Wheeler  his  headquarters  was  there  re 
ceived  once  more  in  good  favor,  and  did  fully  tell 
his  privy  clerk  Mr.  Wilson  how  I  came  to  be 
held  in  jeopardy  whereat  he  did  break  out  in  most 
unseemly  laughter  at  the  plights  that  do  befall 

those 


Pepys's  Ghost 

those  that  serve  with  Colonell  Roosevelt  his  cav 
aliers.  So  to  my  work  on  the  Generall  his  chron 
icles  of  the  warre  and  wrote  hard  all  forenoon. 
^f  After  mess  call  starteth  up  a  great  cry  and  rally 
over  an  envenomed  taruntule  spider  that  did  se 
crete  herself  under  the  very  couch  of  the  general 
issimo  himself  and  there  was  nigh  stepped  upon 
by  him  when  he  would  fain  recline  his  bodye  for 
his  noon  day  rest,  what  our  Cubano  friends  are 
wont  to  call  theyr  Siesta  in  ye  Spanish  tongue. 
On  the  generalissimo  his  hue  and  cry  fell  a  great 
running  hither  and  thither  some  of  us  tearing  his 
pavillion  asunder,  whilst  other  worthy  gentlemen 
beat  the  ground  in  great  diligence  stryving  to  dis 
cover  where  the  horrid  monster  might  lie  in 
hiding.  In  the  end  when  all  is  over,  and  the  tent 
shifted  to  another  fair  spot  so  as  to  foyl  the  cun 
ning  taruntule,  ariseth  another  cry  of  warning 
from  Mr.  Steele,*  the  field  cornet,  who  declareth 
loudly  how  some  red  handed  rogue  hath  stolen  the 
general  his  own  palfrey  from  where  he  stood, 
ready  saddled  and  bridled  awaiting  his  master. 
^|  'TiV  surely  a  trick  of  those  merry  thieves,  the  Rough 
riding  Cavaliers  quoth  Gen'l  Wheeler,  and  bid  the 
cornet  go  forth  and  fetch  his  stolen  horse  from 
the  midst  of  Colonell  Roosevelt  his  camp  where 
he  would  surely  find  him.  So  he  goes  forth,  and 
did  in  sooth  find  the  horse  tethered  before  the  tent 
of  mine  own  erstwhile  friend  Cavalier  Quayde, 
but  that  brave  gentleman  would  no  wise  yield  his 
booty  up  declaring  how  the  horse  had  come  to 
his  hands  unsought  and  so  did  of  right  become 
his  prey.  Then  did  the  generalissimo  wax  highly 
wroth,  but  I  leaving  his  presence  unperceived  did 

hasten 

*  First  Lieutenant  Steele,  of  the  United  States  Cavalry, 
then  attached  to  General  Wheeler's  staff  at  division 
headquarters. 


P  epy  s  's  G  bos  t 

hasten  to  our  camp  and  privily  warned  Master 
Quayde  how  a  storm  be  brewing  lest  he  be  taken 
unawares  and  suffer  grievous  hurt.  'Twas  high 
time,  for  anon  cometh  the  Cornet  riding  into  our 
camp,  full  of  loud  demands  and  threats  to  boot, 
but  the  horse  was  nowise  to  be  found  and  Master 
Quayde  stood  aloof  sticking  his  tongue  into  his 
cheek  verily  as  though  butter  could  not  melt  in 
his  mouth.  'Twas  esteemed  an  humorous  caper 
by  all  our  cavaliers,  Colonell  Roosevelt  himself 
laughing  right  heartily  into  his  sleeve,  and  so  sate 
me  down  and  writ  a  right  merry  chronicle  of  this 
caracole  for  Mr.  Collier  his  gazette  f  and  having 
writ  my  tale  on  a  sheet  of  wet  packing  paper  did 
despatch  it  homewards  by  the  help  of  a  blacka 
moor  muleteer,  who  standeth  ready  alway  to  do 
my  bidding,  having  once  done  him  a  good  favour 
what  time  he  stood  in  need  of  it. 

First  day  of  August. —  Up  and  to  the  general  his 
headquarters,  but  passing  by  Colonell  Roosevelt 
his  pavillion,  he  draweth  me  aside  and  plieth  me 
with  close  queries  anent  the  Isle  of  Puerto  Rico 
and  what  kind  of  land  it  be  for  horseback  fight 
ing.  Hearing  my  warm  praise  of  the  countrye  he 
taketh  great  cheer  and  bids  me  follow  him  to  the 
generalissimo  himself,  there  to  hold  long  privy  dis 
course,  and  did  then  and  there  lay  before  him  all 
that  I  had  told  him  of  mine  own  knowledge.  Eft- 
soons  the  two  captains  call  me  before  them  twain, 
and  I  answering  them  fully,  the  Colonell  did  bid 
me  indict  a  entreaty  to  the  War  Office  for  service 
in  Puerto  Rico  rather  than  in  this  hellish  pest 
hole 

•\  This  piece  of  war  correspondence  was  published 
under  the  caption  "From  the  Camp  of  the  Forty 
Thieves."  It  was  widely  republished,  and  was  later 
made  the  subject  of  an  official  inquiry  on  the  part  of  the 
War  Department. 

["5] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

hole.  Having  writ  said  epistle  for  him,  he  did 
bear  it  away  with  him  to  lay  before  each  high 
officer  of  our  army,  as  a  round  robin  letter,  so 
hoping  to  obtayn  a  favorable  hearing  from  Gen 
eralissimo  Alger,  the  High  Chief  Lord  of  our 
War  Office.* 

August  third. —  Up  at  midnight,  the  moon  shin 
ing  at  her  full,  sorely  troubled  from  rumbling 
noyses  within  my  belly  from  some  horrid  meate 
we  did  eat  yestereen  out  of  smalle  tin  boxes, 
truly  the  most  sickening  messe  I  have  ever  thrust 
into  mine  mouth,  no  never.  Crawling  on  my 
bodye  in  exceeding  payne,  I  did  encounter  many 
others  of  our  troopers,  belly-aching  like  unto  me, 
and  so  lay  sick  all  night. 

August  4. —  Ayling  all  day  so  I  can  nowise  do 
my  duty,  nay  not  even  write  this  my  journall. 

August  sixth. —  This  day  were  we  ordered  to 
march  into  Santiago  town,  there  to  embark  home 
wards,  as  hath  long  been  the  hope  of  all  good 
troopers  that  follow  Colonell  Roosevelt  and  Gen'l 
Wheeler  theyr  standards.  Ayling  too  much  to 
walk  afoot,  Colonell  Roosevelt  bids  me  ride  horse 
back  on  mine  own  Spanish  palfrey  what  was  taken 
in  battelle,  and  did  likewise  kindly  promise  me 
that  the  horse  should  sail  with  us  homewards, 
under  the  guise  of  his  own  privy  war  horse,  that 
was  so  shamefully  drowned  in  the  Bay  of  Dai 
quiri^  so  took  good  heart,  and  eftsoons  rode 
mounted  into  Santiago  in  the  company  of  Sir 
Leonard  Wilson  and  two  troopers,  gallant  cav 
aliers 

*  Theodore  Roosevelt's  famous  round  robin  letter  in 
behalf  of  his  Rough  Riders,  which  resulted  in  the  regi 
ment's  recall  to  the  United  States. 

f  Allusion  to  the  loss  of  "  Rain-the-Face,"  Theodore 
Roosevelt's  private  saddle  horse,  during  the  landing  of 
the  first  American  forces  in  Cuba. 

[,z6] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

aliers  and  merry  boon  companions  both,  what  rode 
with  us  for  escort. 

Aug.  jtk. — This  day  sailed  forth  from  the  har 
bour  of  Santiago,  the  captain  of  our  ship,  yclept  the 
Miami,  steering  close  to  the  wracks  of  our  own 
collier  ship  Merry  Mack,  scuttled  by  brave  Ensign 
Hobson  and  his  dare  devil  crewe,  and  the  Span 
ish  King  his  erstwhile  man  o'  war  Maria  Teresa 
which  was  sunk  in  the  very  mouth  of  the  harbour 
on  the  night,  of  that  great  sea  fight  when  the 
Spanish  Almirante  did  vainly  pit  the  strength  of 
his  Armada  against  our  own  Commodore  Schley 
and  his  gallant  shippes.  So  sailed  forth  from  the 
harbour  of  Santiago  and  out  under  Castel  Morro, 
now  flying  aloft  our  own  flag,  and  turning  the 
ship's  prow  hence  stood  boldly  out  to  sea.  Then 
did  our  buglers  stand  altogether  in  the  fore  castle 
and  merrily  blew  into  their  brazen  homes  that 
well  beloved  song  Home,  Sweet  Home,  and 
Colonell  Roosevelt,  perched  high  aloft  on  the 
poop,  for  his  own  joy  and  pleasance  sang  aloud 
the  French  song  of  our  great  Marlborough,  what 
time  he  came  home  from  the  warres.* 

Second  Day  Out. —  Naught  fit  to  eat  on  the 
shippe  nor  to  drink  either,  so  lay  very  sulkily  upon 
the  deck,  together  with  Dana  Hubbell,  the  merry 
roustabout  from  Boston  town  and  his  friend  Rob 
Wrenn,f  that  deft  paume  player,  now  both  en 
rolled  for  troopers  in  this  warre,  to  lie  anhungered 
and  athirst  as  do  all  of  us  to  our  lasting  cha- 
grine  and  sorrow.  At  even  tide  God  hath  pity  on 

me 

*  "  Malbrouck  se  va-t-en  guerre, 
Mirloton,  mirloton,  mirlotaihe. 
II  reviendra  a  Paque 
Ou  a  la  Trinite." 

f  Robert  D.  Wrenn,  amateur  tennis  champion  of 
America. 

["7] 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

me,  since  Master  Lorimer  Worden,f  did  give  me 
to  drink  a  drop  of  his  choice  brandy-wine  what  he 
dearly  bought  from  a  Spanish  trooper. 

August  i jth. —  The  most  blessed  day  of  the 
year,  since  this  morrow  we  drew  into  sight  of  land, 
and  soon  came  to  anchor  and  eftsoons  a  gang 
plank  was  laid  for  us  and  we  trod  merrily  to  dry 
land,  leastwise  those  of  us  what  could  still  hold 
themselves  upright  on  theyr  legges,  and  so  marched 
up  the  sand  hills  to  the  spittal  camp  midst  loud 
acclaim  from  a  great  concourse  of  peoples  amongst 
them  soft  hearted  wommen  folk  weeping  to  be 
hold  our  sere  and  hollow  cheeked  visages.  On 
the  hill  side  found  we  many  sumptuous  pavillions 
raised  for  our  greater  comfort,  by  master  car 
penters  and  theyr  'prentices  who,  so  'tis  said,  did 
bravely  work  on  the  Sabbath  day  nor  took  no  pay 
therefore,  lest  our  troopers  be  made  to  lie  over 
night  in  the  open. 

Aug.  ijth. — This  day  were  we  joined  in  our 
Spittal  Camp  by  the  gentlemen  souldiers  of  the 
Seventy-first  Foot  of  Gotham,  and  they  too  in 
sorry  plight  of  health  like  unto  us,  but  no  love 
lost  'twixt  them  and  some  of  our  troopers,  our 
hotheads  holding  them  to  have  proven  themselves 
cowards  and  poltroons  on  the  day  of  battelle, 
when  theyr  Colonell  bidden  to  lead  to  the  assault 
suffered  them  to  lie  still  in  shelter,  to  theyr  lasting 
discomfiture  and  disgrace,  they  losing  more  of 
theyr  men  at  this  bloody  bend  of  ye  road,  than  did 
we  in  the  heat  of  our  assault  uponne  Saint  John's 
Hill. 

^f  Drawing  away  from  a  hot  wrangle  with  these 
pride  swollen  souldier  men  of  Gotham,  our  Cap 
tain,  Mr.  Kane  summoneth  me  to  his  presence, 

and 

•j-  Lorimer  J.  Worden,  grandson  of  the  famous  admiral 
and  member  of  New  York  Stock  Exchange. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

and  there  to  my  great  astoniment  am  I  clapped 
under  arrest  and  marched  off  to  jeopardy,  nor 
knew  aught  of  what  had  led  to  it. 

August  2Oth. —  In  ye  guard  house,  with  sundry 
other  merry  gentlemen  cavaliers  that  follow  Colo- 
nell  Roosevelt.  The  officer  of  the  guard,  Master 
Greenway  *  whom  I  knew  in  coledge,  what  time 
he  played  foot  ball  for  old  Eli  Coledge,  drawing  me 
aside  from  the  prisoners,  telleth  me  privily  how  I  be 
clapped  in  gaol  by  reason  of  my  pasquinade  agaynst 
the  thieving  gentlemen  cavaliers  what  I  wrote  for 
Mr.  Collier  his  Gazette,  and  printed  by  him  as 
coming  from  Ye  Camp  of  ye  Fourty  Thieves.  So 
did  advise  me  to  write  another  apologetick  epistle, 
and  I  full  of  merriment  sate  me  down  in  my  dun 
geon  and  then  and  there  writ  this  mock  apologie 
pro  vitia  mea. 

^j "  Upon  my  return  to  this  country  I  learn  with 
regret  that  the  spirit  of  one  of  my  letters  from  the 
front,  published  in  a  recent  issue  of  Collier's 
Weekly,  has  been  grievously  misunderstood  by  cer 
tain  readers.  Thus  it  has  been  brought  home  to 
me  with  some  force  that  my  amused  apprecia 
tion  of  the  way  the  Rough  Riders  were  always 
able  to  look  out  for  themselves  while  in  the  field 

—  a  military  virtue  which  they  called   *  Rustling  ' 

—  has  been  construed  by  some  as  a  piece  of  ill- 
natured  criticism. 

^| u  To  you,  of  course,  it  need  not  be  explained  that 
the  article  in  question,  headed  '  In  the  Camp  of 
the  Forty  Thieves,'  was  meant  by  me  to  be  a 
purely  humorous  description  of  some  phases  of 
bivouac  life  as  observed  by  me  in  the  various 
camps  of  the  Rough  Riders  in  Cuba. 
For 

*  Lieutenant  Greenway,  of  the  Rough  Riders,  who 
previously  distinguished  himself  as  a  football  player  on 
the  Yale  'Varsity  Eleven. 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

^]  For  the  information,  however,  of  those  who 
have  so  utterly  misunderstood  my  intentions,  I 
here  state  with  all  the  emphasis  of  one  who  has 
found  the  Rough  Riders  the  very  best  set  of 
fellows  it  has  been  his  fortune  to  move  among, 
that  for  chivalrous  sense  of  honor  and  corps  d'et- 
prit  the  First  Volunteer  Cavalry  is  a  regiment 
rivalling  the  Musquetaires  of  the  king  of  France, 
while,  so  far  as  individual  honesty  is  concerned, 
there  is  not,  I  am  proud  to  say,  one  man  in  the 
whole  regiment  whose  word  is  not  as  good  as  his 
bond."  'Tis  an  apologie  fit  to  make  a  dogge 
laugh. 

August  2 ist. —  A  sweet  epistle  did  reach  me  this 
day  from  my  dear  wife,  good  womman  that  she 
is,  comforting  me  for  all  mine  mishaps  and  telleth 
me  how  she  hath  set  forth  to  journey  to  our  camp 
alone  to  entreat  Colonell  Roosevelt  forthwith  to 
set  me  free.  So  sate  me  down  in  great  joy  and 
wrote  this  song  which  I  shall  send  to  Mr.  Badger 
his  Literary  Gazette,  what  is  printed  over  the 
sign  of  ye  Olde  Elme  in  Boston  town. 

"Stone  walls  do  not  a  prison  make, 

Nor  iron  bars  a  cell." 
So  wrote  the  poet  for  her  sakej 

In  sooth  she  loved  him  well. 

An  open  tent,  an  open  sward, 

An  open  sky  above, 
Hold  me  a  prisoner  under  guard, 

Deprived  of  all  but  love. 

Disarmed,  disgraced,  I  do  not  pine, 

Strong  in  my  innocence, 
But  muse  on  those  whose  lot  was  mine 

In  times  of  violence. 

The  poet's  and  the  soldier's  lot 

Was  e'  er  a  prison  cell 
Since  Lovelace  languished  on  his  cot 

And  noble  Chenier  fell.  A 

[,3o] 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

A  prison  taught  King  James  to  sing 

When  Scotland  was  uncrowned, 
A  poet  freed  a  captive  king 
When  Lion-Heart  was  found. 

Villon,  beloved  for  his  songs, 

Sang  them  from  prison  walls; 
Gringoire,  who  voiced  a  people's  wrongs, 

Endured  a  dungeon's  thralls. 

Why  pine  then,  if  on  open  sward, 

».  With  open  sky  above, 
I  am  a  prisoner  under  guard, 
Deprived  of  all  but  love  ? 

August  2jtb. —  From  this  day,  henceforth  am  I 
a  free  man,  my  wife's  entreaties  having  set  me 
free,  or  be  it  the  pricks  of  Colonell  Roosevelt  his 
conscience.  Leastwise,  early  on  the  morrow  after 
bugle  call  he  bids  me  before  him  and  without 
much  ado  setteth  me  free  saying  in  a  mock  rough 
voice  Thou  hast  been  a  damned  fool,  but  before  God  I 
forgive  thee,  and  wayving  all  my  fine  defence  on 
mine  own  behalf  aside  apointeth  me  his  privy 
clerk  at  his  headquarter  pavillion,  he  now  serv 
ing  no  longer  as  our  Collonell  but  as  the  general 
issimo  of  this  our  cavaliers  brigade. 

Sept.  ist. —  A  day  of  sore  distresse,  all  our 
water  having  been  cut  off  and  we  all  men  and 
horses  alike  must  go  athirst,  because  forsooth  some 
meddlesome  sawbones  hath  reported  to  ye  Chirur- 
gical  office  that  our  water  be  foul  and  full  of  sick 
ness.  By  midday,  the  sunne  waxing  hot,  our  men 
be  grovelling  in  the  horse  pools  for  to  quench  this 
our  horrid  thirst  from  the  green  slime  thereof,  and 
a  fine  thing  this  is  to  meet  the  eye  of  our  Lord 
McKinley,  when  he  cometh  on  the  morrow  to 
shew  himself  and  all  his  staff  as  chief  of  our  Army 
and  Navy. 

^f  Colonell    Roosevelt,   beholding    our    sore    need 

sendeth 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

sendeth  me  forth  to  enquire  if  so  be  it  some  water 
be  not  forthcoming,  and  with  a  snap  of  his  teeth 
telleth  me  to  be  quick  about  it,  and  so  I  fling  my 
self  uponne  the  first  horse  standing  in  waiting  and 
digging  my  spurres  into  his  sides  rode  from  our 
camp  over  the  country  crosswise  and  so  proceeded 
in  all  haste  till  of  a  suddain  the  stumbling  nag 
falleth  away  from  under  and  I  be  pitched  over  his 
head  and  'lighting  on  my  back  came  nigh  losing 
the  reins  in  my  hand.  Up  agayn  and  tarrying 
nowise  to  cleanse  my  soyled  doublet  I  drived  him 
forward  in  like  hot  haste,  but  rode  not  far,  when 
the  clap-trap  nag  falleth  forward  once  more  with 
his  nozzle  in  the  deep  sand  and  I  sprawling  side- 
wise  was  affrighted  to  hear  my  pistolette  discharge 
herself  from  within  her  holster  and  so  arose  very 
soberly  and  lifted  my  horse  to  his  feet,  he  cough 
ing  and  sneezing  loudly  from  the  fine  sand  and 
dust  he  had  incontinently  sucked  into  his  nos- 
trilles.  So  despatched  mine  errand  and  riding  back 
very  slowly,  was  stopped  short  by  our  Adjutant 
Mr.  Keyes  *  who  telleth  me  how  my  good  wife 
hath  journeyed  hither  to  our  camp  and  did  point 
to  where  she  stood  near  the  guard  tent.  Hearing 
this  I  did  vault  joyfully  into  my  saddle  and  un 
mindful  of  my  horse  his  stumbling  way  galloped 
hot  spur  whither  she  stood  and  lighting  beside 
her  flung  mine  arms  about  her  and  bussed  her 
right  heartily  to  mine  heart's  content. 
^]  At  even  tide,  with  my  furlough  passporte  safe 
in  my  poke,  I  did  find  her  a  lodging  place  in  the 
Half  Way  Inne,  and  so  got  me  ready  for  the  mor 
row  to  furlough  hence  with  her,  so  soon  as  we 
have  beholden  the  pomp  and  circumstance  of  our 
Lord  McKinley  with  his  mighty  train.  Sept. 

*  First  Lieutenant  Keyes  of  the  Rough  Riders,  who 
took  the  place  of  Tom  Hall,  the  humorous  writer  and 
poet,  who  resigned  from  the  front. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

Sept.  2d.—  This  day,  with  no  water  yet  for 
man  nor  beast,  newes  be  comen  of  a  bloody  battelle 
fought  on  the  banks  of  the  River  Nile  twixt  Eng 
lishmen  and  the  Mussulmans  of  the  great  Desert 
and  it  did  come  to  my  mind  how  this  be  likewise 
the  day  of  the  great  memorable  battelle,  twixt  the 
French  and  Germans  when  I  was  but  a  babe  in 
arms.  But  my  friend  the  Englishman,  what 
served  with  the  English  Queen  her  lanciers  hear 
ing  of  the  newes  did  weep  hot  tears,  that  he  be 
lying  here  idle  and  could  not  be  in  the  fray, 
^f  On  the  morrow  we  off,  I  leading  my  Spanish 
stallion,  what  Colonell  Roosevelt  did  bring  over 
for  me,  by  his  bridle  and  my  wife  riding  him 
pillion  wise,  and  so  came  down  the  road  just  as 
our  Lord  McKinley  did  'light  from  his  coach 
greeted  by  Generalissimo  Wheeler  and  Colonell 
Roosevelt  'mongst  the  cavalcade  biting  the  finger 
tips  of  the  gauntlet  on  his  right  hand  to  doff  it 
for  to  greet  his  chief. 

^[So  slipped  by  mid  the  blare  of  bugles  and  ruffle 
of  drums  and  shewing  mine  army  passport  did 
push  our  way  to  a  small  packet  boat  that  plieth 
'twixt  here  and  New  London  but  had  much  ado  in 
persuading  the  stubborn  Spanish  horse  to  take  his 
leap  down  from  the  wooden  wharf  into  the  float 
ing  shallop.  So  sailed  athwart  the  sound,  I  stand 
ing  at  the  bough  sprit  aside  of  Sir  Williams,t  a 
parliament  man,  and  heard  much  angry  talke  from 
him  anent  the  shocking  bad  treatment  of  our  soul- 
dier  lads  and  such  like  fiery  talke. 
^f  On  dry  land  agayn  we  journeyed  cross  country 
to  Short  Beach  where  my  wife  be  spending  the 
summer  season  a  close  neighbor  to  Mistress  Wil- 

cox, 

•)•  George  Fred  Williams,  advocate  for  a  silver  currency 
for  the  State  of  Massachusetts. 


P  e  py  s's  Ghost 

cox,J  and  there  was  touched  in  mine  heart,  by 
the  postmistress  her  refusal  to  take  aught  of  hand 
sel  money  from  my  hand  whilst  I  be  a  souldier 
enrolled  in  our  countrye  her  service.  So  home 
and  lay  for  the  next  three  days  in  a  knit  sailors' 
hamock  stryving  to  forget  the  ills  and  ventures  of 
this  summer. 

Sept.  75. —  This  day  we  be  discharged  out  of 
our  service  in  the  army  and  did  receave  nigh  unto 
£200  from  the  army  paymaster  which  I  holding 
to  be  overmuch  stryved  to  bring  back  to  him  but 
he  would  not  have  the  money  telling  me  how  it  be 
for  my  travail  stipend  wherewith  to  voyage  back 
whither  I  was  sworn  into  service  which  was  nigh 
the  Cubano  village  of  Caney,  in  sooth  a  strange 
practice  whereat  I  marvelled  greatly  in  my  secret 
heart.  To  Colonell  Roosevelt  his  pavillion  to  bid 
farewell  to  him,  and  found  him  in  sore  distress  he 
having  no  clerk  to  aid  him  in  writyng  his  last 
reports  to  the  War  Office,  and  so  forthwith  offered 
to  stand  by  him  in  this,  which  he  taketh  in  good 
part,  and  so  sate  me  down  once  more  to  do  his 
bidding  not  as  for  a  master  but  for  a  friend,  and 
in  sooth  it  liked  me  better  to  have  it  thusly. 
^J  At  even  tide  great  jollity  and  merriment  in  our 
camp,  for  joy  at  our  discharge,  and  some  one 
fetching  a  casque  of  good  sack  for  our  roystering 
cavaliers,  they  did  fall  to  stepping  a  measure  round 
about  the  camp  fire  wherein  was  burned  all  man 
ner  of  wood  we  could  lay  our  hands  on,  and  so 
danced  bravely  after  the  manner  of  the  savage  red 
men  of  America,  two  of  them,  yclept  Apache 
Michael  and  Cherokee  Bill  leading  the  measure, 
with  quaint  high  leaps  and  brandishment  of  battle 
axes. 

Sept.  i6th. —  Woke  late  with  mine  head  nigh 

bursting 

J  Ella  Wheeler  Wilcox,  poet  and  essayist. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

bursting,  and  making  an  end  of  Mr.  Roosevelt  his 
reports  did  take  my  leave  of  him,  he  writyng  some 
worthy  qualifications  upon  the  face  of  my  dis 
charge  papers  whereunto  he  did  put  his  seal  and 
hand,  and  so  made  haste  to  join  our  Captain,  Mr. 
Kane,  and  with  him  journeyed  to  Gotham  very 
friendly,  but  he  troubled  in  his  mind  at  some  our 
cavalier  troopers  riding  in  the  same  coach  with  us 
what  did  fall  to  shooting  theyr  derringers  through 
the  roof  of  the  coach,  he  hating  to  say  them  nay 
being  no  longer  theyr  lawful  captain,  so  I  must 
needs  plead  with  them  as  theyr  erstwhile  comrade 
to  forbear,  which  after  some  high  talke  they  did  in 
sooth  deign  to  do  So  to  our  journey's  end  and 
alight  at  Long  Island,  whence  we  over  the  ferry 
into  Gotham,  and  there  clasped  hands  for  a  last 
parting,  he  going  to  his  home  and  I  to  mine. 

October  16. — 'Tis  a  full  month  that  I  have  not 
set  hand  to  my  journall,  living  all  this  while  in 
great  joy  and  contentment  at  home,  and  all  but 
cured  of  my  inward  ayling,  but  this  day  I  be 
called  to  Saratoga  town,  once  more  to  ply  my 
trade  as  a  gazeteer  of  publick  matters  and  so  stood 
by  while  the  concourse  *  guided  by  Chauncey 
Depewf  and  Elihu  Root  J  did  acclaim  Mr.  Roose 
velt  as  theyr  chosen  man  for  Gouverneur-General. 
So  soon  as  settled,  I  out  of  the  guild  hall  and  sent 
to  Mr.  Roosevelt  his  house  in  Oyster  Bay  a  privy 
despatch  how  things  stood.  Thence  to  Syracuse 
town  to  the  other  party  theyr  concourse,  where 
met  sundry  good  friends  all  proclaiming  themselves 
hot 

*  New  York  Republican  State  Convention  at  Saratoga, 
which  nominated  Theodore  Roosevelt  for  the  gov 
ernorship. 

•(•Senator  Depew,  president  of  New  York  Central 
Railroad. 

1  Famous  New  York  barrister,  later  Secretary  of  War. 

[•35] 


P e py j  Y  G  b o s t 

hot  for  our  Lord  Mayor  §  his  brother  Judge  Van 
Wyck,||  father-in-law  to  my  good  friend  Mr.  Os- 
borne,*  of  the  Crown  Attorney's  office  and  he, 
beholding  me,  reproaches  me  for  a  turncoat,  but 
took  it  not  in  ill  part,  knowing  how  he  be  carried 
away  by  his  choler. 

October  18. —  On  my  return  to  Gotham,  Mr. 
Roosevelt  bids  me  to  his  sister's  house  nigh  to  the 
Seventh  Foot  f  theyr  Armory  and  there  broke 
fast  with  him  and  my  good  friend  Master  Stef 
fens,;!;  what  now  controlleth  our  oldest  gazette  in 
Gotham.**  Mr.  Roosevelt  in  high  anger  at  some 
reproach  brought  agaynst  him  for  that  he  had  not 
paid  his  taxes,  leastwise  not  all,  and  so  did  thump 
the  table  with  his  fisticuff,  crying  aloud  This  I 
cannot  forgive  them  that  they  should  dare  to  question 
mine  honour,  till  we  appeased  him  somewhat, 
Steffens  by  his  brave  promise  to  succour  his  cause 
with  his  gazette  and  I  likewise  pledging  myself  to 
lift  up  my  voice  for  him  in  the  country,  and  so 
parted,  I  taking  a  hackney  coach  for  Mr.  Collier 
his  printing  house. 

^[  There  met  with  his  son,  who  did  forthwith  bid 
me  break  bread  with  him,  and  leading  me  forth 
from  his  office  took  me  through  a  motley  throng 
of  comely  wenches,  bent  upon  folding  and  binding 
all  manner  of  curious  folios,  truly  a  pretty  sight 
nor  could  I  turn  mine  eyes  from  theyr  comely 
countenances  and  bare  arms  till  he,  laughing  did 

drag 

§  Robert  A.  Van  Wyck,  mayor  of  New  York  City. 

||  Augustus  Van  Wyck,  judge  of  New  York  Supreme 
Court. 

*  See  previous  note. 

f  Seventh  New  York  Volunteers,  a  crack  regiment 
which  brought  much  opprobrium  upon  itself  by  the  colo 
nel's  refusal  to  let  them  re-enlist  for  the  Spanish  War. 

|  Lincoln  J.  Steffens.      (See  previous  note.) 

**  New  York  Commercial  Advertiser,  founded  in  1797. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

drag  me  from  the  place  and  so  to  Delmonico  his 
tavern  where  he  did  unfold  to  me  his  project  for 
me  to  hie  me  to  the  Philippine  Isles,  to  write  a 
long  chronicle  thereof,  but  I  telling  him  that  I  be 
first  pledged  to  Colonell  Roosevelt  his  cause  and 
how  my  wife  must  needs  go  with  me  on  so  long 
a  journey,  he  maketh  a  counter  proposal  for  me 
here  to  await  the  turn  of  events  untill  Mr.  Roose 
velt  be  called  to  his  gouverneurship  and  then  to 
hie  me  to  the  port  of  La  Habana,  thence  to 
chronicle  the  changes  wrought  by  the  Spaniards 
theyr  last  dislodgement  from  the  Antilles  and  our 
men's  entry  in  theyr  place.  To  this  did  I  gladly 
consent  and  so  made  a  good  meal  of  it,  over  a  rare 
flagon  of  noble  Burgundy  wine  sweet  meats  and 
black  coffee  drink  from  Araby. 

EDITOR'S  NOTE. —  Here  follows  a  long  hiatus,  during 
which  our  latter-day  Mr.  Pepys  engaged  in  the  political 
campaign  for  Mr.  Roosevelt's  election  as  governor,  as 
member  of  the  Political  Literature  Committee,  and  as  a 
stump  orator,  in  which  efforts  he  ceased  not  until  the 
triumphant  election  of  his  leader  to  the  highest  office  in 
his  State,  The  next  few  entries  in  the  Journall  reveal 
him  in  his  old-time  role  of  bon-viveur  and  chronicler: 

November  fifteenth. —  Up  early  and  to  breakfast, 
but  found  the  food  uncommonly  bad. fc  Went 
abroad  about  business,  but  home  for  dinner.  Then 
off  very  merrily  to  the  Horse  Show,  I  in  my  white 
waist-coat  and  glossed  beaver  and  shoen,  of  the 
fashion  that  pleases  me  well,  my  wife  in  her  new 
gowne  and  purple  petticoat,  very  pretty.  At  the 
show  we  were  nigh  crushed  unto  death,  the  gentle 
men  and  ladies  stepping  around  the  hall  like  ye 
hands  on  a  poke  dial  with  no  regard  to  the  horses, 
but  to  the  many  persons  of  quality  in  the  stalls. 
All  were  gaping  at  the  Duke  of  Savoy,  late  arrived, 
making  him  move  uneasily  in  his  place,  till  he  up 

and 

[-37] 


Pcpys's  Ghost 

and  out  to  avoid  them.  And  so  much  finery  and 
pretty  laces  and  handsome  smocks  with  silken 
sarcenets  I  never  did  behold,  no  not  in  former 
times,  when  the  Duke  of  Marlborough  brought  his 
bride,  but  my  wife  thought  it  a  shame  to  have  all 
the  frocks  spoiled  by  a  stench  of  stables. 
^[  Of  a  sudden  there  was  a  great  outcry  at  the  tall 
jumps  and  leaps  of  two  riders,  riding  to  break 
their  necks,  but  no  hurt  came  of  it.  One  of  the 
cavaliers,  truly,  who  had  fallen  with  his  horse, 
did  roll  about  piteously  on  the  ground,  but  then 
stood  up,  and  with  riding-coat  and  breeches  all 
stained,  did  once  more  clamber  upon  his  palfrey, 
rearing  frightfully,  amid  the  hand-clappings  of 
many  ladies.  But  it  was  a  sorry  sight  to  see  him 
drive  the  poor  horse  to  a  fence  too  high  for  him  to 
leap  and  so  he  ruefully  dismounted.  Then  came 
the  constables,  riding  bravely  in  their  gray  coats, 
and  I  marvelled  to  see  them  sit  so  warriorly  and 
straight,  not  one  whit  like  unto  gray  sparrows,*  at 
which  the  people  cheered  them,  for  verily  they 
wheeled  their  horses  well,  after  the  manner  of 
brave  troopers. 

*[[  In  the  throng  I  met  with  a  face  I  knew,  and 
challenged  him,  thinking  it  had  been  Master 
Gibson,f  one  of  our  pamphleteering  draughtsmen 
come  to  portray  the  company,  and  did  inquire  for 
his  handsome  wife,  but,  finding  that  it  was  a 
gentleman  that  has  no  wife  at  all,  I  was  much 
shamed,  but  made  a  pretty  good  excuse  that  I 
took  him  for  an  artist-paynter  doing  well,  and  so 
parted. 

^[  My  wife  complaining  of  the  stench  and  her 
tight  bodice,  we,  with  much  trouble,  made  our  way 

out, 

*  Allusion  to  the  nickname   "sparrow  cop,"  applied 
to  the  park  police  of  New  York. 

f  Charles  Dana  Gibson,  illustrator  and  artist. 

[-38] 


P  epy  s's  G  bos  t 

out,  took  an  new  fangled  coach  what  runneth  of 
its  own  free  will  without  horses  and  home  to 
supper.  So  to  bed,  late  in  the  night,  weary,  which 
I  seldom  am. 

Thanksgiving  Day. —  Up  betimes  to  seek  out 
my  warmest  cloathes  and  greate  cloake  with  new 
striped  orange  cravatte,  as  well,  wherein  to  deck 
me  for  this  day's  sports  betwixt  ye  rival  colledges, 
and  mighty  glad  to  be  so  well  rid  of  affairs  at  the 
office,  the  others  toyling  there  very  jealous.  My 
wife  would  have  it  I  should  don  a  crimson  neck 
cloth  to  do  honour  to  my  colledge,  but  I  denied 
her,  retayning  the  striped  cravatte,  her  that  my 
father  wore  when  he  did  go  a  schoolboy  to  Nassau 
Hall, |  regardlesse  of  mine  own  colledge.  But 
she  very  contrary  calleth  me  traitor  and  unnatural 
man,  and  prinketh  her  in  her  crimson  gowne  and 
red  roses  in  very  spite  of  me,  and  I  not  the  hearte 
to  chide  her.  So  with  manyfold  furry  skinnes 
and  wrappes  by  coach  to  the  playground,  a  tedious 
long  drive  but  for  the  merry  company  on  the  same 
way  with  us  winding  loud  horns,  with  wayving  of 
motley  ribands,  until!  getting  to  the  very  doors 
of  ye  empty  field,  we  find  a  mighty  mob  with  loud 
mouthed  peddlars  offering  their  wares, —  play  bills, 
pamphlets,  passports,  and  fluttering  banners,  with 
many  more  ribands  and  horns  and  little  footballs 
stuck  on  pinnes,  very  pretty. 

^|  Then  showed  I  my  passports  and  coming  in 
with  the  pushing  crowde  very  glad  to  sit  in  our 
seats  to  behold  the  joyful  antics  and  clamor  of  the 
colledge  boys  prancing  on  their  benches,  shouting 
their  shouts,  croaking  as  they  were  toades,|  and 
singing  ribald  songs  to  lewd  musique.  So  heard  I 
the 

£  Princeton  University. 

•j- Allusion  to  Yale  Freshmen's  adaptation  of  the  Frog 
Chorus  from  Aristophanes. 

['39] 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

the  airs  of  the  naughty  belly  dance,{  of  the  rous 
ing  round  song,  O  Give  Us  To  Drink,  Good 
Tapster,  and  others  I  knew  not,  but  liked  well 
the  words  to  one  that  Master  Scollard  *  did  sing 
aloud  for  our  high  edificacion. 

Below  the  market-place,  perdie, 

And  hard  by  quaint  Saint  Giles, 
There  stands  the  goodliest  hostelry 

In  many  winding  miles. 
The  gables  bright  the  guests  invite, 

The  windows  gleam,  I  trow  j 
And  letters  o'er  the  oaken  door 

Proclaim  —  Ye  Olde  Yew  Bough. 

What  welcome  here!  what  hearty  cheer 

When  wide  the  portal  flies! 
A  smile  that  doth  the  heart  beguile 

Shines  from  the  mistress'  eyes. 
The  fire  heaps  up,  the  pewter  cup 

Is  brimmed  with  foam,  and  now 
We  toss  a  toast —  Our  winsome  host 

What  rules  Ye  Olde  Ye<w  Bough. 

Where  hangs  that  sign,  there  still  is  mine 

A  corner  snug  and  warm  ; 
Then  let  the  haunted  hill-wind  whine, 

And  rage  the  sleety  storm ! 
A  pipe,  a  book,  an  ingle  nook, 

A  slyly  whispered  vow, 
Care  left  behind,  all  these  I  find 

Within  Ye  Olde  Yew  Bough. 

which  all  I  must  set  to  musique  for  mine  orboe. 
^f  But  all  this  bellowing  by  our  bard  as  naught  to 
the  mighty  shout  that  went  up  when  the  foot  ball 
plaiers  ran  hotfoot  athwart  the  meadow  made  most 
unsightly  and  fearthsome  to  behold  by  towzled 
hair,  face  masques,  false  noses,  shin  greaves, 
leathern  jerkins,  and  other  monstrous  harness, 

rolling 

J  Music  hall  song  known  as  "Streets  of  Cairo. " 
*  Clinton  Scollard,  cavalier  poet  of  the  time. 


P  epy  s's  G  bos  t 

rolling  and  tumbling  uponne  theyr  wind  ball  most 
like  to  bear  cubs. 

^f  Eleven  players  this  side  and  eleven  that  facing 
one  another  very  fierce,  besides  the  judge  of  the 
fray  what  standeth  by  with  a  golden  whistle  in  his 
teeth  like  our  savage  arch  foe  Sir  Aguinaldo,  the 
wind  ball  of  a  suddain  bounced  forth.  Then  did 
they  straightway  fall  to  mauling,  bating  and  buf 
feting  each  the  other  most  unkindly  untill  they 
fell  in  heaps  altogether  and  none  of  us  knew  where 
the  ball  might  be  altho  highly  curious. 
^f  So  was  the  game  waged,  now  one  coledge  pre- 
vayling  now  t'other,  to  the  great  contentment  or 
utter  consternation  of  the  gownsmen  that  beheld 
it,  the  militant  coledge  lads  meanwhile  strewing 
the  field,  sorely  battered  and  wounded,  or  stretched 
out  stark  for  dead,  untill  succored  with  water  payls 
or  horse  buckettes  made  toothsome  by  citron  and 
lemon  peal. 

^f  And  I  marvelled  not  a  little  to  behold  fair  and 
daintie  ladyes  plauding  such  fierce  fray,  but  was 
resolved  in  the  end  that  women  and  men  be  ren 
dered  alike  cruell  in  theyr  heartes  by  biting  cold, 
such  as  we  there  did  suffer  for  all  our  warme 
wrappes  and  stamping  of  feet,  but  right  well  con 
tented  with  the  issue. 

^[  To  supper  at  Waldorf  Astor  his  inne,*  who  is 
now  so  swollen  with  pride  that  he  must  forsooth 
forsake  his  own  countrye  and  pretend  that  he  be 
the  seed  of  an  ancient  nobilitye  when  all  the  world 
knoweth  that  his  sires  were  naught  but  common 
butchers  and  furriers,  albeit  worthy  men  of  theyr 
kind.  'Tis  a  matter  fit  to  make  a  dogge  laugh. 

Last  day  of  November. —  Up  betimes,  this  day, 
and  to  the  city,  to  buy  my  boy  a  drum,  having 
writ 

*  The  Waldorf-Astoria  Hotel  on  Fifth  Avenue  in  New 
York,  built  by  William  W.  Astor. 


Pepys's  Gbost 

writ  this  and  like  errands  very  solemn  on  my 
wristband  to  appease  my  wife.  To  the  grill  and 
tap-room  of  the  Lambs,f  vexed  sorely  by  the  snow 
and  slush  bespattering  my  new  lacquered  shoen, 
but  there  met  with  Robert  Milliard,  the  player, 
and  James  W.  Osborne,|  of  the  staff  of  Colonel 
Fellows,§  now  dead  these  three  years,  and  Col. 
Gardiner  who  did  prevail  upon  me  to  take  my 
morning  draught  with  them.  I  condoling  very 
heartily  with  Mr.  Osborne  upon  his  one-time  fort 
une  at  the  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer,  when 
the  sworn-men  see  free  his  prisoner,  Mr.  Moli- 
neux,  what  was  held  to  be  an  arch  poison  fiend, 
he  laughs  ruefully  and  says  how  he  can  call  quits, 
now  that  he  has  both  convicted  and  acquitted  his 
prisoner,  each  by  due  process  of  law ;  but  de- 
mandeth  my  condolences  rather  for  the  coming 
great  upheaval  in  the  public  Prosecutor's  staff, 
upsetting  so  many  merry  gentlemen  and  their  re 
tainers  more  than  an  hundred  all  told,  and  he  with 
them.  A  sorry  deed,  indeed. 

^f  While  thus  we  sat  talking  earnestly  over  a  chine 
of  beef,  Bob  Hilliard,  waxing  emphaticall,  must 
needs  spill  a  tankard  of  ale  into  my  sleeve,  and  I 
much  grieved  to  think  I  had  worn  my  new  coat 
with  the  long  skirts  and  lining  of  sarcenet  agaynst 
my  wife's  will,  and  so  repenting  and  wiping  the 
stains  off  with  my  kerchief,  beheld  of  a  sudden  the 
words  she  had  writ  on  my  wristband  and  bethought 
me  of  my  errand  to  buy  a  drum. 
But 

•(•Actors'  Club,  near  the  middle  part  of  Broadway 
known  as  the  New  Rialto,  the  Old  Rialto  remaining 
along  East  Fourteenth  Street. 

J  James  W.  Osborne,  prosecutor  of  many  causes 
celebres. 

§John  R.  Fellows,  Southern  orator  and  twice  District 
Attorney  of  New  York. 

['4*3 


Pepys's  Ghost 

^f  But  the  roystering  play-actor,  hearing  me  speak 
of  drums,  inviteth  us  to  go  to  the  drummers*  fair 
in  the  Madison  Square  Garden,  to  make  amends 
for  my  drenched  sleeve,  so  that  I  could  not  say 
him  nay,  but  were  all  agreed  not  to  go  til  late,  and 
so  parted,  they  that  way  and  I  this. 
^[  Not  knowing  whither  to  go  first,  and  withal 
loath  to  step  in  the  wet  streets,  I  took  coach  and 
so  to  ye  great  coopers'  shop  with  the  fountain. || 
Such  hurly-burly,  nor  so  many  women  and  maydes 
did  I  never  see,  all  pushing  and  jostling,  each 
against  each,  very  rude,  with  the  shop  wenches  not 
minding  them  —  no,  not  one  bit  —  but  discours 
ing  and  frolicking  amongst  themselves  very  freely. 
When  I  came  upon  the  fountain,  with  the  gilded 
sculpture  therein,  behold  the  basin  was  filled  not 
with  water,  but  with  cheap  bargains  and  shop- 
maydes  selling  them,  all  making  a  damned  noise 
with  calls  and  cries  for  errand-lads.  Toy  ling  up 
many  stairways  and  turning  many  corners,  did  I 
at  last  come  to  the  chamber  of  toys,  very  divert 
ing  and  catch-penny,  with  sledges  and  trompettos 
heapwise,  but  no  drums,  all  drums  having  long 
been  sold. 

^f  In  high  anger  did  I  once  more  take  coach  and 
going  from  shop  to  shop  did  enquire  earnestly  for 
my  drum,  but  was  sore  vexed  to  find  no  drums 
nowhere,  with  all  the  world  meseemed  mad  to  be 
drummers.  To  Wanamaker,  the  Quaker's  shop, 
by  Grace  Church,  where  the  wenches  be  very 
willing  and  civill,  making  no  wry  mouthes  at 
them  they  serve,  and  was  led  by  one  into  the 
vaults  below,  where  we  found,  indeed,  a  drum,  the 
last  to  be  had  in  ye  town.  Yet,  after  all  my  toyle 
and  trouble,  was  I  loath  to  quit  the  pretty  shop- 
wench,  until,  sorely  anhungered  and  athirst,  I  hied 

• me 

||  Siegel  &  Cooper's  Department  Store. 
C'43] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

me  to  St.  Denis's  tavern  *  across  the  way  to  sit  at 
dinner  with  my  friends. 

^f  After  many  stoups  of  hearty  sack,  and  a  worthy 
snack  of  venison,  we  verry  merry  to  the  drum 
mers  fair,  I  bearing  mine  own  drum,  as  it  were  a 
payl  of  lard. 

^f  There  found  we  a  great  throng,  strayning  hither 
and  thither  to  behold  the  daynties  set  forth  in 
wonderful  Pavilions  and  Booths,  with  rich  store 
of  laces  and  noble  ribands,  and  all  manner  of 
finery,  a  sight  what  made  me  to  long  for  my  wife, 
that  she  might  likewise  look  upon  them,  and  so 
did  buy  her  a  box  with  Sandal  wood  and  Spike 
nard,  very  dear.  Elbowing  onwards  bravely,  we 
met  many  friendly  faces  by  the  way,  but  stayed 
not,  untill  hard  by  the  monstrous  merry-go-round, 
gilded  and  passing  strange,  with  chariotts  in  place 
of  hobby-horses,  swaying  and  pitching  forward  like 
a  lugger  on  the  high  seas,  very  tipsy.  The  others 
all  hot  for  the  venture,  but  I  fearthsome,  yet  feared 
more  to  be  dubbed  poltroon,  and  so  clambered  into 
the  Hellish  machine.  Then  were  we  cruelly 
racked  and  tossed  about  and  suffered  torment  such 
as  I  never  have  had,  no  not  sith  I  crossed  the 
channel  from  Florida  to  Cuba,  and  backwards,  til 
we  all  crying  out,  the  machine  was  stayed  and  we 
were  suffered  to  put  foot  on  ground,  mighty  glad 
to  be  out  of  it. 

^f  So  meeting  Stephen  of  Szinnyey,f  one  time  a 
nobleman  of  Hongria,  well  known  to  me,  he 
haileth  us  very  heartily  as  the  master  of  the  Show, 
and  enticeth  us  the  erstwhile  stables  below  most 
fancifully  tricked  out  for  a  pleasure  walk  and  very 
mayfair,  with  penny  shows,  Romany  jugglers,  and 
sorcerers  to  right  and  left,  yea  even  camels,  drom 
edaries 

*  Hotel  St.  Denis  on  Broadway, 
•f  Commercial  travellers'  press  agent. 

[-4+] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

edaries,  cockatoos,  and  other  wild  beasts,  with 
mock  citties  and  taverns  of  Egypt,  Ireland,  and  ye 
German  Empire,  all  singing  and  noisy.  Amongst 
them  all  ye  loud  crier  of  the  Coney  beech-fair,}; 
more  loud  and  fiercer  than  ever,  withal  very  per 
suading,  who  must  needs  follow  for  fondness  of 
us,  and  soon  bringeth  us  to  ye  pavilion  of  may- 
dens,  striving  one  against  another  for  a  pocket 
clock  to  be  apprized  to  the  comeliest,  but  none 
too  pretty  with  all  their  wiles  and  pursing  of  lips, 
no  place  to  tarry.  With  all  haste  away,  a  great 
crowd  following,  to  the  Punch  &  Judy  playhouse, 
there  to  behold  Yvette  Guilbert,§  who  singeth  the 
naughty  rhymes  at  the  musique  halls,  selling  away 
children's  dolls,  great  and  small,  like  unto  a  town 
crier  or  sheriff  to  the  best  bidder.  And  the 
French  woman  espying  us  spareth  no  pains  to 
make  us  buy,  pointing  at  us  with  many  French 
quips  and  English  too,  till  for  very  shame  we 
must  each  buy  his  doll,  none  knowing  what  to  do 
therewith,  and  so  out  and  to  some  oysters  at 
Delmonico's.  Thence  home  and  to  bed  very 
early  to  be  up  betimes  on  the  morrow  for  our  long 
journey  over  sea.  So  endeth  the  year  for  me  in 
Gotham  town. 

December  ist. —  Up  early  at  Mr.  Astor  his  hos 
telry,  we  lying  over  night  there  for  that  our  house 
be  all  torn  up  and  our  winter  rayment  packed  up 
for  to  make  our  voyage  over  sea  to  the  Antilles, 
and  so  broke  fast  with  Mr.  Nast  of  Mr.  Collier 
his  printing  house  he  kindly  having  undertook  to 
escort  us  twain  to  our  shippe,  the  trader  Orizaba 
what  plieth  twixt  our  port  and  the  West  Indy 
seas,  and  so  with  a  fair  wind  stood  out  of  the 
Narrows  and  by  the  Sand  Hook  into  the  high 
sea.  December 

J  Coney  Island  at  entrance  of  New  York  Harbor. 
§  French  cbanteuse  then  in  great  vogue. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

December  jth. —  My  wife  ayling  in  her  berth 
with  siknesse  of  the  sea  I  abroad  on  the  quarter 
deck  and  did  there  fall  into  converse  with  a  fellow 
ship  mate,  bearded  like  unto  a  pard,  who  doth  tell 
me  how  he  be  lately  come  from  the  gold  mines  in 
the  Klondyke  yet  poor  in  money  as  he  went  thither 
from  the  gold  fields  of  the  South  Afric  Republique. 
On  my  pricking  him  with  queries  he  launches 
forth  in  high  bitterness  at  Sir  Cecyl  Rhodes  ||  and 
his  friend  what  they  call  Doctor  Jim,*  dubbing  the 
twain  high  rogues  and  murderers,  plotting  to  rob 
all  honest  men  of  theyr  deserts,  yet  found  him  to 
be  a  Scotsman  born  and  bred,  and  true  withal  to 
his  Queen.  Forwith  to  still  my  wonderment  he 
did  curdle  my  blood  with  harrowing  tales  of  Sir 
Cecyl's  monstrous  greed  and  cruelty,  which 
things,  he  professeth  be  commonly  known 
throughout  South  Africa  from  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope  to  beyond  the  banks  of  the  Vaal  River. 
So  wore  away  the  day  what  with  listening  to  the 
gold  miner  his  wrathful  wordes  and  ministering  to 
my  poor  wife  her  needs,  until  by  eventide  we  be 
comen  within  sight  of  Castel  Morro,  standing  by 
the  mouth  of  the  harbour  of  La  Habana,  and  did 
put  me  in  mind  of  the  stirring  days  when  we  did 
cruise  back  and  forth  before  the  castel  with  our 
fleet  of  man  o'  wars  men  and  what  time  I  did  spy 
into  La  Habana  unawares  in  the  guise  of  a  Dutch 
merchantman. 

^f  So  came  up  close  to  the  Morro,  our  pilot  mak 
ing  haste  to  steer  his  ship  into  her  anchorage  to 
the  lee  of  Las  Cabanas,  lest  the  sunne  should  set 
fore  we  might  make  our  port  and  so  set  us  back 
adrift  until  the  morrow,  such  being  the  law  of  the 

land 

||  Chief  promoter  of  British  interests  in  South  Africa. 
*Dr.   Jameson,    leader   of  an   abortive   raid    into   the 
Transvaal  in    1897. 


P  epy  s's  Ghost 

land  whilst  the  Spaniard  still  holds  sway  in  the 
Antilles.  Drawing  nigh  within  a  fathom's  reach 
of  the  Morro  I  make  haste  to  draw  my  poor  wife 
forth  from  her  couch  to  behold  the  waves  leaping 
high  up  agaynst  the  breakwater  and  beyond  the 
bastion,  yea,  dashing  theyr  sprey  and  spindrift  to 
the  very  foot  of  the  beacon  light  nigh  an  hundred 
feet  in  heighth,  but  my  wife,  poor  wretch,  too  ill 
at  ease,  een  to  lift  her  head  to  behold  so  straunge  a 
marvel.  So  into  the  harbour  and  'twas  wonderful 
how  incontinently  our  ship  did  cease  to  rock  and 
wallow  in  the  trough  of  the  sea,  the  waters  within 
lying  smooth  as  the  face  of  my  ladye's  hand  glass. 
Then  did  my  wife  arise  and  proclaiming  herself 
well  and  hearty  prinked  and  pruned  her  bodye  to 
make  ready  for  to  'light,  and  so  stood  by  the  taff- 
rail  awaiting  the  call  of  the  watermen  in  their 
shallops  rowing  round  about  our  shippe.  In  the 
end  we  off,  and  taking  coach  at  the  water  gate 
through  many  pitch  dark  streets  and  alleys  to  ye 
greate  English  Inne  dubbed  in  the  Spanish  lingo 
El  Gran  Hotel  del  Inglaterra.  Then  to  supper, 
eating  of  strange  and  divers  dishes  such  as  never 
we  ate  before,  but  the  sack  made  of  Xeres  grapes 
well  to  my  liking,  and  so  to  bed  glad  to  be  rid  of 
the  sea. 

December  6th. —  Up  late,  lying  long  abed  these 
nights  of  straunge  merriment  in  La  Habana,  the 
town  full  of  Spanish  souldiers  shipping  off  to 
Spain  and  our  souldiers  flocking  to  land  in  great 
shippe  loades.  Broke  fast  in  the  open  pateo  f  of 
our  house  in  deep  discourse  with  the  Marquis  of 
Estruch,|  who  meaneth  to  sail  for  Spain  on  the 
morrow,  and  he  doth  tell  me  highly  emphatick 

how 

•j-  Interior  Cuban  garden. 

|  Spanish  major-general  commanding  the  cavalry 
division  in  Cuba. 

[-47] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

how  he  be  heartily  glad  to  quit  the  Antilles  having 
never  found  content  in  fighting  agaynst  these 
Cubano  rebels  what  would  no  wise  stand  theyr 
ground  for  a  fair  fight. 

December  8th. —  My  serving  man  Veloce,  enter 
ing  early  in  the  morn  for  to  arouse  us,  I  did  bid 
him  set  forth  food  wherewith  to  break  fast,  and  he 
serving  us  none  too  nimbly  did  ask  him  scornfully 
how  he  come  to  be  named  Veloce  what  meaneth 
in  the  Spanish  lingo  Nimble.  Then  did  he  un 
fold  to  me  with  mournful  wordes  how  he  be  a 
German  gentleman  born,  and  full  fledged  doctor 
of  laws,  offspring  of  Maurice  Swind,§  the  great 
Dutch  paynter,  and  now  come  to  this  low  degree, 
whereat  I  counselled  him  to  leave  ofF  this  idle 
drudgery  wherefore  he  doth  get  naught  but  his 
pains  rather  to  go  and  ply  a  trade  of  his  own  be 
it  ever  so  humble.  So  he  off  and  did  this  very 
day  quit  his  service  and  cometh  back  proudly  for 
to  tell  me  how  he  hath  took  up  the  trade  of  a 
huckster  and  sweetmeats  vendor. 

Dec.  I2tb. —  To  the  Inglaterra  for  my  daily 
draught  of  Xeres  wine  and  there  beheld  Senor 
Sanguilly,  the  Cubano  rebel,  lately  returned,  with 
black  ugly  looks  flashing  'twixt  his  friends  and 
highly  wrathful  souldiers  of  the  Spanish  King  his 
forsaken  army.  So  lingered  until  nightfall  and 
after  supper  back  again  for  trouble  was  surely 
brewing. 

^f  Of  a  suddain,  we  having  quaffed  our  third  round 
of  wassail  cups,  bursts  forth  an  angry  quarrell 
'twixt  Cubanos  and  Spaniards,  and  one  man  strik 
ing  'tother  in  the  face,  tables  be  overturned,  and 
flashes  of  drawn  swordes.  Anon  cometh  the  loud 
noyse  of  a  blunderbuss  and  other  souldiers  run 
ning  up,  all  fall  to  shooting  their  arquebuses  this 

way 

§  Moritz  von  Schwindt,  R.A.,  of  Bavaria. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

way  and  that,  we  hiding  away  into  an  ingle  nook, 
whilst  bullets  and  broken  glass  flew  hither  and 
thither.  The  Cubanos  flying  up  the  stairway, 
with  Spanish  souldiers  shooting  after  them,  I  out 
into  the  square  and  there  beheld  Mr.  Mott  ||  upon 
a  balcony  watching  the  Spanish  souldiers  assault 
the  hostelry.  Then  did  I  see  poor  Veloce  shot 
dead,  and  one  fierce  Spanish  trooper  hot  spur  after 
a  Cubano  flying  for  his  life  before  the  sharpe 
point  of  his  sworde,  and  anon  come  upon  Stephen 
Crane,§  who  standeth  with  both  his  hands  held 
aloft,  lest  he  be  shot  for  a  Cubano,  and  I  accosting 
him,  he  did  waggishly  shake  his  head  and  proclaim 
'  Tis  another  night  of  St.  Bartholomew. 

Dec.  16. —  The  town  still  in  high  uproar  with 
troops  in  all  places,  and  no  hackney  coaches  durst 
enter  ye  publick  square  where  horse  and  foot  stand 
guard  over  the  doors  of  the  Inglaterra  hostelry. 
Entering  within  I  behold  bullet  holes  in  the 
guilded  mirror  glass  of  the  hallway,  and  Mynheer 
Herring,f  the  Dutch  gazeteer,  drawing  me  aside 
sheweth  me  two  gaping  holes  rent  by  musquet 
balls  above  his  couch  over  the  very  place  where 
he  did  sleep.  Major  Mott  likewise  plucks  me  by 
the  sleeve  to  shew  me  whence  he  did  gaze  down 
upon  the  brawl  what  time  I  beheld  him  yester 
night. 

^|  He  feaithsome  lest  worse  trouble  brew,  for  'tis 
th'  appointed  day  for  the  landing  of  our  own  first 
troops  in  the  port,  so  I  to  fetch  my  wife  and  with 

her 

||  Major  Mott,  U.S.V.,  attached  to  General  Greene's 
staff,  just  arrived  in  Havana  from  the  conquest  of  the 
Philippines. 

*  Author  and  war  correspondent,  at  that  time  de 
spatched  to  Havana  by  the  New  York  Journal. 

fWar  correspondent  for  the  New  York  Staats- 
and  author  of  Der  Krieg  in  Kuba. 

[•49] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

her  away  to  Saint  Joseph  his  wharf  there  to  gaze 
upon  our  own  fair  lads  in  their  blue  shirts  and 
overwarm  cloathes  striding  like  unto  giants 
mongst  all  these  Spanish  pygmie  folk,  and  a 
motley  throng  of  blackamoors  and  dancing  picka 
ninny  boys  to  acclaim  them  on  this  theyr  first 
march  thro  the  town. 

^f  They  have  come  in  the  nick  of  time  quoth  Steven 
Crane,  we  coming  upon  him  in  the  midst  of  the 
town,  for  he  hatheth  all  Spaniards  as  they  were 
poison.  He  most  cocksure  how  more  frays  and 
mayhap  bloody  rebellion  must  soon  follow,  and 
so  gave  but  scant  heed  when  I  did  bid  him  go 
with  us  to  behold  them  unearth  the  bones  of 
great  Sir  Cristopher  Columbus  in  the  church  of 
La  Habana  on  the  morrow,  but  in  the  end  gave 
me  a  hearty  yea. 

Dec.  2Oth. —  To  the  church  and  found  there  a 
solemn  throng  of  Spanish  friars,  troopers  and  offi 
cers  of  the  crown  gathered  to  shew  honour  to 
theyr  great  Admiral,  now  long  dead  and  gone, 
on  his  last  voyage  over  seas,  whilst  the  great  bells 
above  be  tolling  for  his  proud  soul.  All  them  as 
sembled  thither  highly  curious  to  pry  into  the 
casket  hidden  'neath  his  noble  monument  of  four 
brazen  friars  bearing  him  aloft  in  his  marble  bier, 
for  'tis  a  saying  in  this  country  how  the  bones  of 
noble  Sir  Cristopher  did  turn  in  his  grave  what 
time  his  namesake,  the  flag  shippe  El  Gran 
Almirants  Cristobal  Colon  was  sunk  off  this  island 
by  our  Commodore  Schley,f  but  on  peering  within 
were  sorely  discomfited  finding  neither  bones  nor 
documents,  no  not  even  the  iron  chains  where 
with  he  was  disgraced  alive,  yet  'tis  known  that 
in  his  last  will  and  testament  he  did  earnestly 

enjoy  n 

•)•  Final  stroke  of  the  great  naval  victory  off  Santiago, 
July  3,  1898. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

enjoyn  his  son,  Sir  Diego,  nowise  to  forbear  to 
bury  these  selfsame  chains  with  him  to  the  ever 
lasting  shame  and  contumely  of  the  King  of 
Spain. 

^[Thereat  I  privily  confirmed  in  my  mind  that 
these  be  not  the  true  ashes  of  Sir  Cristopher,  they 
lying  lost  elsewhere  in  the  shuffle  from  one  grave 
yard  to  tother,  mayhap  on  Saint  Dominick,J  his 
island,  where  they  last  lay,  mayhap  at  Sevilla  or 
mayhap  in  Valladolid,  where  they  did  first  bury 
him. 

^[  'Twas  a  fair  sight,  albeit,  this  day  to  behold  so 
many  late  honours  shewn  to  ye  dead  Admiral, 
eight  coal  black  mules  drawing  his  hearse,  with 
horse  and  foot  souldiers  marching  after  to  the 
ruffle  of  drummers  and  booming  shots  of  cannon 
from  the  castle,  and  so  brought  him  to  the  har 
bour's  edge  and  there  saw  the  casket  lowered  into 
a  barge  and  taken  aboard  a  fast  sloop  o'  war,  El 
Conde  de  Venadito,  there  to  lie  in  state  beside  the 
bodyes  of  those  brave  Spanish  captains  Sir  Santo- 
cildes  §  and  Linares  lately  slain  in  the  warres. 
^f  So  home  to  dinner,  deep  in  meditacion  on  the 
vanity  of  all  things,  which  I  seldom  am,  but  tar 
ried  at  the  Three  Friars,  Stephen  Crane  his  chosen 
tap  room,  to  uprayd  him  for  so  light  a  breach  of 
his  solemne  promise,  but  he  so  far  gone  in  dalli 
ance  with  two  morena  damozels  and  at  such  losse 
what  to  plead  in  his  owne  behalfe  that  he  did 
feign  to  be  too  deep  in  drink  to  know  my  face,  and 
so  left  him,  nor  knew  how  to  explain  his  ill  man 
ners  to  my  wife,  waiting  for  me  below  in  her 
hackney  coach.  December 

J  San  Domingo.  For  the  long-pending  controversy 
concerning  the  last  resting-place  of  Columbus*  ashes, 
see  Frederick  Ober's  book  on  the  subject. 

§  Commanding  generals  at  the  battle  of  San  Juan,  July 
2,  1898. 

['5'] 


Pepys's  Ghost 

December  2jtb. —  A  sorry  Yule  tide  away  from 
my  home  and  our  children,  my  wife  weeping  all 
day  as  one  bereft,  nor  no  holy  day  for  any  one  in 
the  Antilles.  For  this  day  laws  be  gone  forth,  to 
put  an  end  of  all  high  carnivals,  since  the  blacka 
moor  Cubanos  can  so  little  constrayn  theyr  pleas- 
aunce  at  the  Spaniard  his  downfall  that  they  must 
needs  shoot  off  theyr  deadly  blunderbusses  and 
derringers  at  all  hours  of  the  night  and  day,  and 
now  many  lie  ayling  in  the  spittals  sorely  wounded. 

Last  day  of  the  Tear. —  Up  early  and  to  the 
Captain  General  his  palace, ||  what  he  must  quit 
on  the  morrow  to  the  lasting  chagrine  and  sorrow 
of  all  the  Spanish  King  his  people,  and  there  sued 
him  for  a  passeporte  wherewith  to  enter  into 
Morro  Castle,  to-morrow  to  stand  bye  when  our 
good  flag  is  raised  over  the  battlements  and  the 
blood  and  gold  standard  of  Leon  and  Castile  be 
pulled  down  for  aye. 

^[  He  receaveth  me  in  stately  courtesy,  as  a  true 
nobleman,  and  did  tell  me  with  a  bitter  smile  how 
my  name  be  entered  on  his  black  list  for  an  arrant 
spy,  as  was  privily  told  to  me  ere  this  by  Master 
Dawley,*  the  fire  brand  scribe,  but  now  all  is 
forgiven  in  token  whereof  the  Captain  General 
did  give  to  me  his  own  counterfeit  presentment 
for  keepsake.  Likewise  he  did  furnish  unto  me 
such  passeportes  I  asked  for,  signed  with  his 
hand  and  signet  and  bearing  the  royal  seal  of 
Castille,  but  his  clerk  taking  me  aside  enjoyneth 
me,  how  all  grants  and  privileges  of  the  Crown  of 
Spain  will  go  for  naught  on  the  morrow  after  the 

stroke 

||  Capitan- General  Castellanos,  the  last  Spanish  Gov 
ernor  of  Cuba. 

*  Thomas  Dawley,  Jr.,  editor  of  the  first  English 
newspaper  published  in  Cuba  and  author  of  On  the 
Trail  of  Gomez. 


Pepys's  Ghost 

stroke  of  noon  and  biddeth  me  therefore  go  thither 
provided  with  furthermore  privileges  granted  by 
our  own  gouverneur-general  that  is  to  be.  So 
parted  from  the  Spaniards,  theyr  Captain  General 
leading  me  to  his  door,  highly  pleasant  spoken  and 
courteous, —  'tis  what  they  call  grandezza  in  the 
Castilian  lingo,  and  I  into  my  coach  and  hence  to 
our  own  Generalissimo  Fitzhugh  Lee,-)-  at  his 
country  house  Buena  Vista.  'Tis  the  most  hand 
some  house  in  that  neighbourhood,  where  winter  is 
made  green  with  noble  king  palms  and  summer 
flowers  ever  in  blossom,  and  so  stating  mine  errand 
to  him  did  obtayn  all  that  I  asked,  and  will  thus 
properly  play  mine  own  part  on  the  morrow  come 
what  will.  Thence  back  to  La  Habana,  and  after 
a  merry  supper  at  the  Hostelry  of  the  Passage 
way  J  on  the  Prado,  to  the  Duke  of  Tacon  his 
play  house  and  there  saw  a  highly  solemn  tragedy 
of  the  great  playwright,  Calderon,  shewing  how  all 
life  be  but  a  dream,§  a  deep  play  forsooth  and  liked 
me  well,  but  'tis  the  last  play  to  be  given  at  this 
house  in  the  Spanish  tongue  or  with  Spanish  play 
actors.  Returning  thence  we  strayed  by  the  way 
to  glimpse  into  an  open  court  where  blackamoors 
be  dancing  theyr  wild  savage  measure  with  incon 
tinent  shouts  of  Cuba  Libre,  Cuba  libre,  Cuba 
libre,  what  meaneth  that  they  now  hold  themsleves 
free  to  cast  off  all  restraynt,  poor  fools. 
^f  So  endeth  the  year  with  rag,  tag  and  bobtail,  as 
it  begun,  but  God  knoweth  I  be  a  changed  man 
from  what  I  was  of  yore. 

•j-  Officer  of  the  American  Confederate  Army  and 
later  American  consul  in  Havana,  installed  as  Governor- 
General  after  the  Spanish  evacuation  of  Cuba. 

|  Hotel  Passaje,  so  named  from  an  arcade  cutting 
through  its  centre  to  the  next  strej 

§  La  Vida  es  Sueno. 

'  UNIVERSITY 
E'53] 


PRINTED  BY  GEO.  H.  ELLIS 
AT  172  CONGRESS  STREET 
BOSTON,  FOR  RICHARD 
G.  BADGER  &  CO.,  PUBLISHERS 
BOSTON 


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